Device and methods for depositing materials on hard surfaces

ABSTRACT

A device and method for applying a material to a hard surface. The device has a sensor and one or more applicator nozzles. The device further includes a reservoir for containing a material to be deposited, and a CPU. The method includes providing information from the sensor about the surface to the CPU, which uses the information to identify where the material is to be deposited and/or how much to deposit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device and method for applying materialsand/or compositions to hard surfaces. The device and method can be usedto precisely apply a desired amount of the material to the desiredlocation on the surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many reasons to apply materials to surfaces, including toclean, protect, and/or to modify surfaces, such as, for example floors,walls, counters, cabinets, appliances, fabrics, leather and othersurfaces commonly found in homes and businesses. However, currentapplication techniques tend not to be very precise, and thus, extramaterial is used which or the material is applied to areas other thanthe intended areas. This is especially true when the application is donein the home or by other than professionals. Attempts to develop orimprove devices used in the application of materials to surfaces havebeen made, but have generally failed to garner widespread acceptance dueto their size, complexity and/or cost, especially when intended forconsumer rather than commercial use.

Accordingly, there exists a need for methods and apparatuses that canprecisely apply materials to surfaces. In addition there is a need forsuch methods and devices that can be conveniently and effectively usedby non-professional consumers in locations, such as a home, school,business, hospital or other location that is not specifically designedfor such precise application of the materials to the surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to address one or more of the outages of the prior art, thepresent invention provides the following device and methods:

-   A) An apparatus for applying a composition to a hard surface, the    apparatus including: an applicator head comprising a microfluidic    die having one or more applicator nozzles; a reservoir to hold the    composition; a sensor; and a CPU; wherein the sensor is configured    to sense at least a portion of the surface and provide the CPU with    information about the surface, and wherein the CPU analyzes the    information from the sensor to identify surface deviations, and the    CPU activates the one or more applicator nozzles based on the    surface deviations.-   B) The apparatus of paragraph A, wherein the sensor senses color,    brightness, reflectance, refractance temperature, surface height,    texture, color differences, odor, variations in the surface, dirt,    irregularities in the surface, bacteria or combinations thereof.-   C) The apparatus of paragraphs A-B, wherein the sensor is a camera.-   D) The apparatus of paragraphs A-C, wherein the microfluidic die    includes a plurality of nozzles.-   E) The apparatus of paragraphs A-D, wherein the microfluidic die    includes a heating element or an electromechanical actuator.-   F) The apparatus of paragraphs A-E, wherein the sensor is a color    sensor and the sensor and the CPU is programmed to identify a ΔL_(S)    value of plus or minus 1.5%, preferably plus or minus 1.0% even more    preferably plus or minus 0.5%, of the background L.-   G) The apparatus of paragraph F, wherein the predetermined ΔL_(S)    value is greater than 3, preferably greater than 2 and more    preferably greater than 1.-   H) The apparatus of paragraphs A-G wherein the device is attached to    a cleaning implement having a handle and a head.-   I) The apparatus of paragraph H, wherein the head of the cleaning    implement is configured to receive a cleaning sheet.-   J) The apparatus of paragraphs A-I, wherein the CPU is configured to    activates the one or more nozzles to apply the composition to the    surface where the surface deviations are located.-   K) The apparatus of paragraphs A-J, wherein the CPU is configured to    activate the one or more nozzles to apply the composition to the    surface where the surface deviations are not located.-   L) The apparatus of paragraphs A-K, wherein the CPU is configured to    activate the one or more nozzles in a discontinuous deposition    pattern.-   M) The apparatus of paragraphs A-L, wherein the CPU is configured to    activate the one or more nozzles in a continuous deposition pattern.-   N) The apparatus of paragraphs A-M, wherein the number and or    frequency of nozzles fired can be adjusted by a user of the    apparatus.-   O) The apparatus of paragraphs A-N where the one or more nozzles are    disposed in an array that is a linear configuration, multiple rows,    off-set, sine wave, curved, circular, or saw tooth arrangements.-   P) A method of depositing a composition on a hard surface, the    method comprising the steps of:    -   identifying the hard surface onto which the composition will be        deposited;    -   providing a device having a sensor, a reservoir for the        composition, a CPU, and at least one microfluidic die comprising        at least one nozzle;    -   locating the sensor over at least a portion of the hard surface;    -   activating the sensor to acquire information about the hard        surface;    -   providing the acquired information to the CPU;    -   instructing the CPU to calculate the location of one or more        deviatins on the hard surface; and    -   activating the at least one nozzle to deposit the composition on        the hard surface.-   Q) The method of paragraph P, including the additional step of    sensing the hard surface after the composition has been deposited    thereon.-   R) The method of paragraphs P-Q, wherein the sensor senses the hard    surface for variations in color, brightness, reflectance,    refractance temperature, texture, surface height, odor, variations    in the surface, dirt, irregularities in the surface, bacteria or    combinations thereof and mixtures thereof.-   S) The use of a device including a sensor, a CPU, a reservoir and a    microfluidic die to apply a composition to a hard surface.-   T) The use of paragraph S, wherein the hard surface is a surface    selected from the group of: a floor, a wall, a counter top, an    appliance, a grout, a tile, a window, furniture, tools, a screen, a    fabric, a carpet, a floor covering, a textile, a painted surface, or    combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed the samewill be better understood from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a hand held apparatus according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a cartridge that may be used with thedevice of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an example of the device of the presentinvention mounted on a cleaning implement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to thefollowing detailed description of illustrative and preferredembodiments. It is to be understood that the scope of the claims is notlimited to the specific compositions, methods, conditions, devices, orparameters described herein, and that the terminology used herein is notintended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Also, as used in thespecification, including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particularnumerical value includes at least that particular value, unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. When a range of values is expressed,another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to theother particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed asapproximations, by use of the antecedent basis “about,” it will beunderstood that the particular values form another embodiment. Allranges are inclusive and combinable. All percentages and ratios usedherein are by weight of the total composition, and all measurements madeare at 25° C., unless otherwise designated.

The present apparatuses and methods, in their simplest form, aredirected to the application of one or more materials or compositions toa surface. As used herein, the terms “material”, “materials”,“composition” and “compositions” are intended to be interchangeable andare intented to encompass any single material and any combination ofmaterials, unless specifically restricted to any particular material ormaterials. The terms are not intended to limit the form of thematerials, how the materials are provided or produced, or any specificcharacteristics of the material(s) or composition(s) unless specificallyset forth and called out herein as an exception to this definition.

The present devices and methods may be used for any suitable purpose,including but not limited to one or more of the following: cleaningsurfaces; coloring surfaces; filling cracks or other indentations suchas scratches, dents or separations; killing mold, mildew or bacteriaother living organisms; staining surfaces; deodorizing surfaces;protecting surfaces by applying one or more materials to the surface;treating surfaces with one or more materials to change a property of thesurface, such as hydrophobicity; removing stains; fixing weak or brokenportions of the surface; changing the surface texture; restoring thesurface; applying perfume to the surface; adding material to the surfacethat will chemically or otherwise react (e.g. light, heat, sound, etc.)as desired to the surface or other materials that are subsequentlyapplied to the surface or to which the surface is exposed.

Exemplary surfaces and substrates for the application of the treatmentcomposition by the present deposition system include ceramics; grouts;plastics, manufactured surfaces such as quartz countertops; paintedsurfaces; glass; carpeting; tiles; wood or other natural surfaces;fibers; woven surfaces; non-woven surfaces; leather and other treatedorganic materials; concrete; non-porous surfaces; metals; andcombinations thereof.

METHOD

The specific method used to apply the desired material to the targetsurface will vary with the particular desired use and outcome. However,certain steps will be generally applicable to various embodiments of thepresent invention. The following examples are intended to benon-limiting and it is fully contemplated that additional steps oralternative steps may be included when appropriate.

One non-limiting example of the method of the present invention thatcould be used to apply a specific material to a certain location on asurface includes the steps of taking at least one background image of atleast 10 μm² of surface and then calculating the average background Lvalue of the image on a grey scale. The background L can be calculatedanywhere within the image. The background L can be the arithmeticaverage, median, or mean of a plurality of local Ls, which means thecalculation can include all of the local Ls in the image, or a subsetthereof. Further, from the same image, a localized L value is calculatedfor individual pixels or a group of pixels. The local L value is thencompared to the background L value to identify color deviations. A colordeviation is an area of the surface where the absolute value of thedifference between a local L value and the background L, (thisdifference being defined as “ΔL_(M)” or the measured ΔL, “Δ” is commonlydefined as the symbol for a difference between two values) is greaterthan a predetermined ΔL_(S). The background L can be preset, orcalculated by a variety of methods described below. A material can thenbe applied to the locations of the color deviations to reduce orincrease the color deviation or otherwise apply a particular material tothe specific portions of the surface desired.

The predetermined ΔL_(S) is the absolute value of the difference betweenthe local L and the background L. This value, ΔL_(S), can be defined inabsolute numbers or as a percentage. The images are taken, or convertedto a standard grey scale that is known to the art. It is understood thatany numerical scale that measures lightness to darkness can beconsidered a “grey scale”. Moreover, as used herein, “grey scale” isintended to be a linear scale, or one band, or one visual attribute. Forexample, one “grey scale” visual attribute could be single wavelength ora narrow wavelength to define a specific visual color. Another exampleof one “grey scale” visual attribute could be a mix of wavelengthnumerical values averaged for each pixel making up the image, such as atrue black, grey or white image from an RGB mixture.

It will also be understood to those skilled in the art that thebackground L value should not be too close to the ends of this scale.For example, if the grey scale is 0-100, with 0 being pure black and 100being pure white, a background in the 0-10 range, or in the 90-100 rangemay be too light or too dark to show meaningful differences.Accordingly, one can adjust the background lighting, or the gain on thecamera taking the image, to move the background L closer to the middleof the scale. In this example, a background L of 50 would work well,with a background L in the range of 10-90 or 20-80 being even morepreferred.

The most common grey scale is 0-255 (no units) and other examplesinclude 0-1024 and 0-4096. For a grey scale of 0-255, the differencebetween grey scale steps is at least 1/255. In this example it would bedesirable to use camera and lighting settings that provide a backgroundL value between 60 and 210. Using the 0-255 gray scale the ΔL_(S) ispreferably at least 0.5, at least 1 or at least 1.5 to initiatedeposition of the material on the surface. Likewise, ΔL_(S) can bemeasured as a percentage, for example, a numerical ΔL_(S) of 2.6 isapproximately equal to 1.0% of a 255 grey scale. Thus, ΔL_(S) may beplus or minus 0.25%, plus or minus 0.5%, or plus or minus 0.75%, of thegrayscale.

Images may be taken in sequence or preferably continuously. Higher speedcameras, cameras that capture greater than 4 frames per second, greater100 frames per second, greater than 200 frames per second, and evengreater than 600 frames per second may be desired for certainapplications. The images are preferably either taken in a grey scale orconverted to a grey scale. The grey scale can have any range, forexample, 0-255, no units. This corresponds approximately to a refreshrate of 0.2 seconds or faster. Consistent with the camera, it may bedesirable to choose a CPU that can process the images at a rate that isat least that of the rate the images are captured.

There is no technical difference between an image used for background Lvalues and those used for local L values, the difference is in theanalysis of the image. Hence, the images are continually sent to theCPU, that is, the processing unit, to calculate the L values, and ΔL_(M)values. By “sent” it is understood, that preferably at least 4 bits ofdata per pixel are transferred for each image, and preferably, this 4bit (or more) packet of data is used in the calculation of each local Lvalue. It is understood, that the background L can be calculated once ina treatment period and that value reused throughout the treatmentperiod. Or it can be continually recalculated as long as the treatmentprocess goes on. Moreover, there can be pre-programmed triggers toinitiate a recalculation of the background L. Also, the background L maybe retrieved from the CPU memory to be used for the current backgroundL. For example, if an extended period of time elapses and no skindeviations are found, or if skin deviations are being found toofrequently, a new background L might automatically be calculated.Likewise, ΔL_(S) can be a set value that remains constant throughout thetreatment cycle or it too can vary. ΔL_(S) can be reset during thetreatment cycle for any of a variety of reasons. If too many nozzles arefiring too frequently, the ΔL_(S) can be adjusted to lower the intensityof the nozzle firing. Similarly, if the nozzles are firing tooinfrequently, ΔL_(S) can be adjusted in the opposite direction toincrease the sensitivity of skin deviation detection. Those skilled inthe art will appreciate that modifying ΔL_(S) during treatment is amatter of programming the CPU to or with a desired algorithm.

When the ΔL_(M) exceeds the predetermined value, a material may beapplied to the deviation. Specifically, one or more of the nozzles whichdispense the composition is fired in the area of the skin deviation. Thecomposition may be applied to surface in a continuous or discontinuousdeposition pattern. The composition or materials can be applied to thesurface by scanning and applying at the same time and/or while makingmultiple passes over the surface. Several advantages result from usingmultiple pass application. The process for multiple pass applications isto make a partial application of the composition, then to scan again thearea of surface that has received the partial application. A furtherapplication of compositions can be made, and still further multiple passscanning and applications can be made to approach a specific goal. Thus,the consumer can select the end point of the application, thus tailoringthe application time to individual needs and preferences.

The method described above can also be used to identify surfaceirregularities such as cracks, dents, openings, imperfections, etc. Onceidentified, the areas of deviation can have a material applied theretoto provide the desired end result. For example, a crack in a tile may befilled, caulk may be applied to an opening between constructionmaterials, grout may be applied to the space between tiles, wood fillermay be applied to a dent in a wood floor or a material may be applied toa scratch or dent in a painted surface to fill, repair, and/or hide theimperfection. In other situations, the method may be used to identifystains in fabrics and to apply cleaning agents or hueing dyes. Stillother uses for the method can be to apply sealing materials, pigments,anti-bacterial agents, perfumes, masking agents, or any other desiredmaterial to a specific portion of a surface.

DEVICE

A non-limiting example of the device of the present invention is ahand-held device that includes a sensor and an applicator. Theapplicator may include one or more nozzles and a reservoir forcontaining the composition to be applied to the desired surface. Thedevice may also include an optional illumination source and a CPU. Theillumination source can illuminate the surface to be sensed and thesensor can sense information from the surface that is used to determinehow much material is applied to the surface and where. In a simpleexample, the device may include a sensor that records an image of thesurface, a CPU to analyze the image to determine where and how muchmaterial is to be deposited on the surface and an applicator to applythe desired amount of the material to the desired location on thesurface.

The sensor may used to sense any number of attributes of the surface towhich the material is to be applied. The sensor may be, for example, acamera that takes black and white or color images, a spectrophotometeror similar devices that are sensitive to electromagnetic energywavelengths. The sensor output may be used to calculate the localized Lvalue of individual pixels or groups of pixels of the surface. The CPUcan then compare the local L value to the background L value to identifysurface deviations where the difference between the two L values isgreater than a predetermined value. The sensor readings may include, butare not limited to values selected from the group of color, brightness,reflectance, refractance temperature, texture, depth, width, length,odor, and mixtures thereof.

The central processing unit (“CPU”) of the device can be any of avariety of commercially available devices. In its simplest form, the CPUis a single programmable chip like those found in consumer electronicdevices such as a lap top computer, a cell phone, an electric razor andthe like. Those skilled in the art will know of a variety ofcommercially available chips and other processors suitable for use withthis invention. CPU may include Application Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC), controller, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), integratedcircuit, microcontroller, microprocessor, processor, and the like. TheCPU may also include memory functionality, either internal to the CPU ascache memory, for example Random Access Memory (RAM), Static RandomAccess Memory (SRAM) and the like or external to the CPU for example asDynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Static RAM,Flash Memory (e.g., Compact Flash or SmartMedia cards), disk drives,Solid State Disk Drives (SSD) or even Internet Cloud storage. While itis anticipated that a remote CPU, either tethered to the device, orwhich communicates wirelessly, can be used to accomplish the methods ofthe present invention, a local CPU within the device is exemplifiedherein. The appropriate size and speed of the CPU may be determinedbased on the particular desired uses of the device.

The applicator of the device may be any applicator that can provide forprecision delivery of the material to the surface. For example,microfluidic dies may be used alone or in combination with othertechnologies. The term “microfluidic die”, as used herein means a diecomprising a fluid injection system made using a semiconductor microfabrication process such as thin film deposition, passivation, etching,spinning, sputtering, masking, epitaxy growth, wafer/wafer bonding,micro thin-film lamination, curing, dicing, etc. These processes areknown in the art to make MEMs devices. Microfluidic dies may be madefrom silicon, glass, or a mixture thereof. The microfluidic diecomprises a plurality of microfluidic chambers, each comprising acorresponding actuation element: a heating element or anelectromechanical actuator. In this way, the microfluidic die's fluidinjection system may be micro thermal nucleation (e.g. via heatingelement) or micro mechanical actuation (e.g. via thin film piezoelectricor ultrasonics). One type of microfluidic die suitable for themicrofluidic delivery system of the present invention is an integratedmembrane of nozzles obtained via MEMs technology as described in U.S.2010/0154790, assigned to STMicroelectronics S.R.I., Geneva,Switzerland. In the case of thin film piezo, the piezoelectric materialis typically applied via spinning and/or sputtering processes. Thesemiconductor micro fabrication process allows one to simultaneouslymake one or thousands of MEMS devices in one batch process (a batchprocess comprises of multiple mask layers). The microfluidic deliverymember includes a die having a fluid chamber with an inlet and anoutlet.

While microfluidic dies and inkjet-like cartridges are shown andexemplified herein, compositions may be applied with other “flowcontrol” devices or non-drop control devices. Flow control devicestypically are characterized as “drop control devices” where individualdroplets of the substance are controlled. Examples of drop controlinclude “fine flow control” where the flow of the substance is preciselycontrolled to deliver droplets as desired and “inkjet technologies.” Anolder inkjet technology includes supplying a continuous flow of chargeddroplets past electrostatic deflector plates which are alternatelycharged so that the plates either permit a droplet to pass or deflect toa gutter. This technique was the original design basis for inkjetprinters. Other inkjet technologies include “drop on demand” such asthermal devices provided by Hewlett Packard, and piezoelectric devicessuch as provided by Epson and other printer manufacturers. Drop ondemand technology may also be combined with charging the droplets.

Other suitable devices for depositing the materials include, but are notlimited to, piezo electric drop control devices and other microelectromechanical systems. Yet other spray devices, includingelectrostatic spray devices, that are non-drop control devices may beused, but since they tend not to provide the desired control of thematerial to be deposited they may not be suitable for all applicationsof the technology. However, in certain circumstances, they may be usefulto be used alone or in combination with other technologies. For example,such technologies can provide some “randomness” to the deposition of thematerial, which may be desired in order to produce a smooth applicationover a relatively large area. However, because the general intent of thepresent invention is to allow a user to provide very specific control ofthe amount and/or placement of the compositions on the target surface,these technologies may not be suitable for every contemplated use of thepresent invention.

In devices including one or more nozzles, the composition may bedispensed by “firing” one or more of the nozzles when the nozzles arelocated adjacent the surface deviation or other identified region forapplication of the composition. By “firing” it is meant that thecomposition is forced through the nozzle. The composition may be appliedto surface in a continuous or discontinuous deposition pattern via oneor more nozzles. Where multiple nozzles are used, they may be disposedin an array. The “array” can be a linear configuration, multiple rows,off-set, sine wave, curved, circular, saw tooth arrangements, or anyother desired arrangement of the nozzles. The number and location ofnozzles as with the frequency of their firing can be static or can beadjustable. Those skilled in the printing arts will appreciate thevarious configurations of nozzle arrays that are possible for use in themethods and apparatuses disclosed herein.

Firing intensity curves can be programmed into the CPU to adjust thefiring rate of nozzles. For example, if ΔL_(M) is equal to or slightlygreater than ΔL_(S), then the adjacent nozzle is fired 1 time. If ΔL_(M)increases to 2*ΔL_(S), then the adjacent nozzle is fired 25 times. Ifthe ΔL_(M) is 3*ΔL_(S), then the adjacent nozzle is fired 100 times.This non-limiting example is intended to show how the size of the ΔL_(M)with respect to the ΔL_(S) can determine the amount, and hence, theintensity of the firing of the nozzles. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that plotting a firing intensity curve using 2, 3 or moredata points, and then programming that firing intensity curve into theCPU are known techniques.

Exemplary equipment that could be useful in constructing an apparatus ofthe present invention is described in the following published patentapplications: WO 2008/098234 A2, Handheld Apparatus and Method for theAutomated Application of Cosmetics and Other Surfaces, filed 11 Feb.2007; WO 2008/100878 A1, System and Method for Applying a Treatmentcomposition to Change a Person's Appearance Based on a Digital Image,filed 12 Feb. 2007; WO 2008/098235 A2, System and Method for ProvidingSimulated Images Through Cosmetic Monitoring, first filed 11 Feb. 2007;WO 2008/100880 A1, System and Method for Applying AgentElectrostatically to Human Skin, filed 12 Feb. 2007; US 2007/0049832 A1,System and Method for Medical Monitoring and Treatment Through CosmeticMonitoring and Treatment, filed 12 Aug. 2005; and US 2007/0035815 A1,System and Method for Applying a Treatment composition to Improve theVisual Attractiveness of Human Skin, filed 12 Aug. 2005; U.S. Ser. No.14/736,551 entitled Apparatus And Methods For Modifying KeratinousSurfaces, filed Jun. 11, 2015.

COMPOSITIONS

The present invention may utilize any desired composition, material ormixture of compositions or materials. For example, the composition mayinclude inks, dyes, pigments, adhesives, curable compositions, opticallyactivated compounds, metal oxides, bleaching agents, texture reducingpolymers, silicones, stains, paints, surfactants, cleaners, malodorreducing agents, lubricants, fillers, perfumes, scents, polymers,polymeric additives, particles, optical modifiers, optical matchers, andother actives such as antibacterial and antimicrobials, and combinationsof these or other materials, some of which are further described herein.

The composition can be delivered in a variety of product formsincluding, but not limited to, a cream, a lotion, a gel, a foam, apaste, particles, liquid, mixture, or a serum and may be applied as asingle phase or material or as multiple phases or multiple materials.Additionally, the composition can include for stabilizers or otherprocessing and/or preservative ingredients.

Additionally, the compositions can be delivered alone or in the presenceof a carrier. The carrier, if any, can be in a wide variety of forms.Non-limiting examples include simple solutions (water or oil based),emulsions, and solid forms (gels, sticks, flowable solids, wax,amorphous materials). In certain embodiments, the carrier is in the formof an emulsion. Emulsion may be generally classified as having acontinuous aqueous phase (e.g., oil-in-water and water-in-oil-in-water)or a continuous oil phase (e.g., water-in-oil and oil-in-water-in-oil).The oil phase of the present invention may comprise silicone oils,non-silicone oils such as hydrocarbon oils, esters, ethers, and thelike, and mixtures thereof. For example, emulsion carriers can include,but are not limited to, continuous water phase emulsions such assilicone-in-water, oil-in-water, and water-in-oil-in-water emulsion; andcontinuous oil phase emulsions such as water-in-oil andwater-in-silicone emulsions, and oil-in-water-in-silicone emulsions.Other carriers or chassis include humectants, one example of which is apolyhydric alcohol. Exemplary polyhydric alcohols include polyalkyleneglycols and alkylene polyols and their derivatives, including propyleneglycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycoland derivatives thereof; sorbitol; hydroxypropyl sorbitol; erythritol;threitol; pentaerythritol; xylitol; glucitol; mannitol; butylene glycol(e.g., 1,3-butylene glycol); pentylene glycol; hexane triol (e.g.,1,2,6-hexanetriol); glycerin; ethoxylated glycerine; and propoxylatedglycerine. Yet other humectants include sodium2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate, guanidine; glycolic acid and glycolatesalts (e.g., ammonium and quaternary alkyl ammonium); lactic acid andlactate salts (e.g., ammonium and quaternary alkyl ammonium); aloe verain any of its variety of forms (e.g., aloe vera gel); hyaluronic acidand derivatives thereof (e.g., salt derivatives such as sodiumhyaluronate); lactamide monoethanolamine; acetamide monoethanolamine;urea; sodium pyroglutamate, water-soluble glyceryl poly(meth)acrylatelubricants (such as Hispagel®) and mixtures thereof.

NON-LIMITING EXAMPLES

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an example of a handheld apparatus ordevice 40 according to the present invention. Apparatus 40 is showndirectly above surface 18, separated by physical spacer 42. Physicalspacer 42 may be a portion of the device 40 or may be a separate piecethat may be used to help the user locate the device above the surface18. As shown, the spacer 18 has a set, predetermined height a such thatwhen it contacts surface 18, but it is contemplated that the spacer maybe adjustable or that different spacers could be used for differentpurposes. The spacer 18 helps the user maintain the mechanical andelectrical elements above the surface are all at a known distance fromthe surface.

The mechanical and electrical elements associated with apparatus 40include, but may not be limited to, light 44, image capture device 46,nozzle array 20 (which is shown embedded on cartridge die 54) which isshown attached to cartridge 52. Preferably, all of these elements areenclosed within optional apparatus housing 41, although otherembodiments are contemplated wherein one or more of the elements arelocated outside housing 41. Light 44 illuminates an area of the surface18 such that the image capture device 46 has relatively constantillumination. In situations where background lighting could affect theimage capture, the spacer 42 prevents background light in and/or theillumination from light 44 to escape. Generally, however, smalldeviations in illumination can be corrected for provided light 44provides a relatively constant background illumination. Light 44 can bea light emitting diode (LED), incandescent light, neon bulb based or anyother commercially available source of illumination. Light 44 can haveconstant illumination or adjustable illumination. For example, anadjustable light source might be useful if the background illuminationis excessively bright or dark.

Image capture device 46 can be any of a variety of commerciallyavailable devices such as a simple camera or a digital cmos camera chip.Image capture device 46 takes a picture of surface 18 and sends it toprocessor 50 via image capture line 48 for analysis. Alternatively oradditionally, the device 40 may include sensors other than the imagecapture device. For example, it may be desirable to sense the texture ofa surface, the color of a surface, materials on a surface, the frictionof a surface or other physical and/or aesthetic features. Sensorsavailable for sensing any desired property of the surface can be usedwith the device 40. The information sensed by the sensor can be providedto the processor 50.

Processor 50 is generally referred to as a central processing unit, orCPU, which may comprise a simple circuit board, a more complex computer,or the like and may include memory functionality. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that a CPU can be any of wide variety ofcommercially available programmable devices.

If an image capture device 46 is used, the image may be analyzed forlocal L values, background L values, both or other values consistentwith the particular use of the device 40. Grey scale conversion occurswithin the analytical processing capabilities of processor 50. Thecomparison of background L to local L to determine the ΔL_(M) occurswithin processor 50, which can be a commercially available programmablechip, or other commercially available processing units. The results ofthe image analysis, when compared to criteria pre-programmed into theprocessor, may result in a desired application of a material to thesurface. In such a case, for example when the calculate ΔL_(M) exceedsthe pre-determined ΔL_(S), a signal is sent from processor 50 tocartridge 52, via cartridge line 51, to fire one or more of the nozzlesin nozzle array 20.

Power for cartridge 52, light 44, image capture device 46, processor 50,and other mechanical and electrical elements that might be present issupplied by power element 54 via multiple power lines 55. Power element54 can be turned off and on, which in turn turns apparatus 40 off andon, via power switch 56 which can be located anywhere on apparatus 40,but is shown here on apparatus cover 58. Power element 54 may includeenergy storage functionality via a battery, a rechargeable battery, anelectrochemical capacitor, a double-layer capacitor, a supercapacitor ora hybrid battery-capacitor system.

Turning now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of cartridge 52 is shown. Thecartridge 52 includes cartridge cap 62 and cartridge body 64. Body 64includes standpipe 66 which is typically enclosed within body 66 anddefines nozzle outlet 68. Optional filter 70 helps keep excessivelylarge particles, and other debris out of the nozzle array 76. Filter 70and nozzle array 76 are shown on opposite sides of nozzle outlet 68,although other configurations are contemplated. Composition 74 partiallyfills cartridge body 64. Core 72 fills cartridge 64 and helps toregulate back pressure of the composition 74. Core 72 may be a sponge,foam, fibrous material, paper or any other material suitable for thedesired operation. Back pressure can be regulated via bladders and/orother methods known to the art. The core 72 shown is just one example ofhow to help regulate flow of the composition 74 to standpipe 66 throughfilter 70 and into nozzle array 76. Connector 78 provides the electricalpower and signal to nozzle array 76. Composition 74 may be ejected fromthe cartridge 52 by piezoelectric means, thermal means, mechanicalpumping means or a combination of these or others know and/or set forthherein.

The device or apparatus of the present invention may be configured to beheld in the hand of a user or can be mounted to a structure that allowsthe user to more easily move the apparatus across the surface to bemodified, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3. In either case, duringuse, the consumer can simply move the apparatus across the surface to betreated. Optionally, the device can be configured in a stationarystructure wherein the consumer moves the surface to be treated acrossthe device. Embodiments are also contemplated where more than one deviceis used. In such configurations, similar devices can be used in parallelor in series. In other configurations, different devices can be combinedtogether.

If the device 40 according to the present invention is used with acleaning implement, the cleaning implement may include any knownstructure. For example, the cleaning implement may be a wet or dry mop,a vacuum, a squeegee or any other implement. One exemplary embodiment isshown in FIG. 3. The implement 100 includes a plastic head 110 forholding the cleaning sheet 120 and an elongate handle 130 articulablyconnected thereto. The handle 130 may comprise a metal or plastic tubeor solid rod. The head 110 may have a downwardly facing surface 115, towhich the sheet 120 may be attached or against which the sheet 120 maybe located. The downwardly facing surface 115 may be generally flat, orslightly convex. The head 120 may further have an upwardly facingsurface 118. As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet 120 may be attached to theupwardly facing surface 118 and wrap around at least a portion of thedownwardly facing surface 115 of the head 110. The upwardly facingsurface 118 may have a universal joint 140 or the like to facilitateconnection of the elongate handle 130 to the head 110. The device 40 ofthe present invention may be mounted to the head 110 of the implement100, the handle 130 or any other portion of the implement 100.

A hook and loop system may be used to attach the cleaning sheet 120directly to the bottom of the head 110. Alternatively, the upwardlyfacing surface 118 may further comprise a mechanism, such as resilientgrippers, for removably attaching the cleaning sheet 120 to theimplement 100. If grippers are used with the cleaning implement, thegrippers may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos.6,305,046; 6,484,346; 6,651,290 and/or D487,173.

The cleaning implement 100 may further comprise a reservoir 150 forstorage of a cleaning solution or other composition. The reservoir 150may be replaced when the cleaning solution is depleted and/or refilledas desired. The reservoir 150 may be disposed on the head or the handleof the cleaning implement. The neck of the reservoir may be offset percommonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,335. The cleaning solutioncontained therein may be made according to the teachings of commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,088.

If a cleaning sheet 120 is used, it may comprise a nonwoven. Thenonwoven may be synthetic and/or have cellulosic fibers therein. Thesynthetic fibers may comprise carded, staple, wet laid, air laid and/orspunbond fibers. The cleaning sheet 120 may comprise layers, to providefor absorption and storage of cleaning fluid deposited on the targetsurface. If desired, the cleaning sheet 120 may comprise absorbentgelling materials to increase the absorbent capacity of the cleaningsheet. The absorbent gelling materials may be distributed within thecleaning sheet in such a manner to avoid rapid absorbency and absorbfluids slowly, to provide for the most effective use of the cleaningsheet.

The cleaning sheet 120 may comprise plural layers disposed in alaminate. The lowest, or downwardly facing outer layer, may compriseapertures to allow for absorption of cleaning solution therethrough andto promote the scrubbing of the target surface. Intermediate layers mayprovide for storage of the liquids, and may comprise the absorbentgelling materials. The cleaning sheet 120 may have an absorbent capacityof at least 10, 15, or 20 grams of cleaning solution per gram of drycleaning sheet, as set forth in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos.6,003,191 and 6,601,261. The top, or upwardly facing outer layer, maybeliquid impervious in order to minimize loss of absorbed fluids. The toplayer may further provide for releasable attachment of the cleaningsheet to a cleaning implement. The top layer may be made of apolyolefinic film, such as LDPE.

The device of the present invention may also be or be associated with aduster or other surface cleaning device. In one such embodiment, thedevice may include sole plate with a permanent cleaning surface and aremovable/replaceable cleaning surface. The replaceable cleaning surfacemay comprise a pad. The device may also include a replaceable, on-boardsupply of cleaning solution. The pad/cleaning solution may be replacedwhen depleted and replaced with a new pad/cleaning solution or maysimply be replaced with a new pad/cleaning solution which may be moresuitable for a particular cleaning task.

In use, application times will vary based on the size of the applicationarea and the precision and amount of the material that is desired to beapplied. For example, a user may wish to simply touch up a small scratchon a surface and the application might take just a few seconds orminutes. Alternatively, a user may wish to restore the look of an entirecounter top. This type of application could take minutes or hours.Accordingly, the consumer will have tremendous control over how and forwhat the device and process is used. Further, to ensure the nozzles donot clog, it may be desirable to fire nozzles periodically to keep themclean or clear.

EXEMPLARY USES

Color:

The method and device of the present invention may be used to provideand/or modify the color, reflectance or other aesthetic features of asurface. For example, it may be desirable to add color to a portion of asurface. It may be desirable to do so in order to change the color ofthat portion of the surface, restore the original color of the surface,mask a color or other feature of a surface, such as, for example, adefect or discoloration. As such, it may be desirable to provide acomposition or mixture of compositions that include color, hue, pigmentor other materials. Examples of such compositions include, but are notlimited to inks, dyes, metal oxides and pigments (collectively referredto herein as “colorants”). Colorants may include inorganic or organicpigments and powders. Organic pigments can include natural colorants andsynthetic monomeric and polymeric colorants. Organic pigments includevarious aromatic types such as azo, indigoid, triphenylmethane,anthraquinone, and xanthine dyes which are designated as D&C and FD&Cblues, browns, greens, oranges, reds, yellows, etc. Organic pigments mayconsist of insoluble metallic salts of certified color additives,referred to as the Lakes. Inorganic pigments include iron oxides, ferricammonium ferrocyanide, manganese violet, ultramarines, chromium,chromium hydroxide colors, and mixtures thereof. The pigments may becoated with one or more ingredients that cause the pigments to havedesired characteristics, such as hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity.Exemplary coating materials include silicones, lecithin, amino acids,phospholipids, inorganic and organic oils, polyethylene, and otherpolymeric materials. Exemplary silicone treated pigments as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,143,722. Inorganic white or uncolored pigments includeTiO2, ZnO, ZrO2, hollow spheres or semiconductor quantum dots, which arecommercially available from a number of sources. Other suitablecolorants are identified in U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,279.

Adhesives:

Adhesives can be applied to surfaces with the device and method of thepresent invention. It may be desirable to apply the adhesive to thesurface alone or to apply the adhesive with or in anticipation ofanother material that will stick to the adhesive. Examples of adhesivesinclude those described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,467, issuedto Blatchford, et al., filed on Apr. 23, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,310,issued to Delgado, et al., filed on Nov. 4, 1994; and U.S. Pat. No.5,160,315, issued to Heinecke et al., filed on Apr. 5, 1991.

As noted above, after an adhesive is applied to a surface, a secondcomposition may be applied to the surface and/or adhesive. In oneembodiment, the second material that is not adhered to the adhesive canbe removed leaving behind a selective, micro application of the secondmaterial to the surface.

Activatable Materials:

Compositions that cure or are otherwise activated upon exposure tocertain wavelengths of energy, infrared light or UV for example, areknow to the art and can be applied by the device and method of thepresent invention. For example, a light curable composition may beselectively applied to the surface and then cured by exposing thesurface to the curing energy source. The entire surface can be exposedto the activation source or the exposure can be done by the device atthe same time as the application and selectively to the material that isapplied to the surface.

An example of an activatable material is one that includesoptically-activated particles. Such materials are sometimes referred toa “interference pigments”. They often include a plurality of substrateparticles selected from the group consisting of nylons, acrylics,polyesters, other plastic polymers, natural materials, regeneratedcellulose, metals, hollow spheres, semiconductor quantum dots andminerals; an optical brightener chemically bonded to each of theplurality of substrate particles to form integral units in the form ofoptically-activated particles for diffusing light. These materials canhelp to reduce the visual perception of imperfections, including dents,scratches, cracks, and discolorations. The optically-activated particlesmay be encapsulated with a UV transparent coating to increase thediffusion of light to further reduce the visual perception of theimperfections. Such encapsulated optically-activated particles are ableto absorb ultraviolet radiation and emit visible light as well asscatter and absorb light in a diffuse manner in order to reduce thevisual perception of the imperfections.

Fillers:

The method and device of the present invention may be used to filldepressions in surfaces such as cracks, dents, slits, openings and thelike. For example, the device and method may be used to fill cracks inwood floors, tiles, lenses, countertops, pavement, walls and other hardsurfaces. Additionally, the method and device may be used to fill crackor the like in flexible surfaces such as leather, plastics, fabrics,films, foils and the like. Examples of compositions that can be used forsuch purposes include the aqueous oil-in-water emulsion scratch covercomposition for finished wood disclosed in WO 1994010237 A1; thecompositions for fixing wood floor scratches disclosed in US2011/189387; the curable filler composition for veneer repair disclosedin US 2008/0152876; the compositions in U.S. Pat. No. 8,128,718; thesolid polishing materials disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,335; thoseset froth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,691; U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,291 and WO9607706. Other fillers include urethane prepolymer with an isocyanategroup at the terminal and obtained by reacting polyole includingpolytetramethyleneglycol and/or modified polytetramethyleneglycol with apolyisocyanate compound as described in more detail in JP 5106801.

In these types of uses, it may be desirable for the device to sensechanges in the tropography of the surface in order to determine where toapply the material. However, it would also be possible to use colorchanges, such as the L value changes set forth herein to determine whereto apply the composition and how much, etc. It may even be desirable tocombine topography sensing with color sensing to ensure the target areais accurately identified and/or appropriately modified by the appliedcomposition.

Hard Surface Cleaners:

The method and device of the present invention may be used to provideprecise application of cleaning compositions to hard surfaces. Forexample, it may be desirable to clean a particular spot on a surface,such as a floor, wall, tile, caulk, grout, window, cupboard, sink,shower, shower plastified curtain, wash basin, toilet, fixture orfitting and the like made of different materials like ceramic, vinyl,no-wax vinyl, linoleum, melamine, glass, steel, kitchen work surfaces,any plastics, plastified wood, metal or any painted or varnished orsealed surface and the like. One specific application would be thecleaning or removal of mold or mildew from grout lines. Household hardsurfaces also include household appliances including, but not limited torefrigerators, freezers, washing machines, automatic dryers, ovens,microwave ovens, dishwashers and so on. Such hard surfaces may be foundboth in private households as well as in commercial, institutional andindustrial environments.

Hard surface cleaning compositions are used for cleaning and treatinghard surfaces. Preferably, the hard surface cleaning composition isformulated to be an “all purpose” hard surface cleaning composition.That is, the hard surface cleaning composition is formulated to besuitable for cleaning as many different kinds of surfaces as possible.Hard surface cleaning compositions are typically diluted before use in abucket before being applied to the surface being cleaned using a mop,sponge, cloth or similar device. Especially when cleaning particularlydirty floors, film and streak residues may be left which result in poorshine, and an impression that the surface is not yet sufficiently clean.In addition, such floors, washed with diluted hard surface cleaningcompositions, tend to be slippery with a resultant increase in the riskof falls and similar accidents, until dry. Hence, the present inventioncan not only reduce the amount of cleaner needed, but also reduce someof the undesirable aspects of cleaning a hard surface by preciselydelivering the cleaning agent to the desired location.

Hard surface cleaner compositions may be in liquid form and are oftenaqueous compositions. As is common today, hard surface cleanersgenerally comprise from 30% to 99.5% by weight of the total compositionof water. However, the present invention may allow for higherconcentrations of cleaning actives as the compositions are contained inthe device until used and then applied very precisely to the desiredlocation.

The hard surface cleaner may be acidic or basic. The composition mayhave a pH from about 2 to about 14, from about 2 to about 10, from about2 to about 9.5, or from about 2.1 to about 8, as is measured at 25° C.

The composition may have any suitable viscosity. In certain embodiments,the composition may be “water-like” having a viscosity that is close tothat of water. The composition may have a viscosity of up to about 50cps, from about 0 cps to about 30 cps, from about 0 cps to about 20 cps,or from about 0 cps to about 10 cps at 60 rpm and 20° C., when measuredwith a Brookfield digital viscometer model DV II, with spindle 2. Thecomposition may also be thickened, as desired. Thus, the composition mayhave a viscosity of from about 50 cps to about 5000 cps, from about 50cps to about 2000 cps, from about 50 cps to about 1000 cps, or fromabout 50 cps to about 500 cps at 20 s^(−1 and) 20° C., when measuredwith a Rheometer, model AR 1000 (Supplied by TA Instruments) with a 4 cmconic spindle in stainless steel, 2° angle (linear increment from 0.1 to100 sec⁻¹ in maximum 8 minutes). Preferably, the thickened compositionaccording to the embodiment is a shear-thinning composition. Thethickened composition herein preferably comprises a thickener, morepreferably a polysaccharide polymer thickener, still more preferably agum-type polysaccharide polymer thickener, and preferably a Xanthan gumthickener.

The composition may comprise a surfactant or a mixture thereof as onepreferred, but optional ingredient to provide cleaning capabilities.Suitable surfactants are selected from the group consisting of ananionic surfactant or a mixture thereof; a nonionic surfactant or amixture thereof; an amphoteric surfactant or a mixture thereof; azwitterionic surfactant or a mixture thereof; and mixtures thereof. Thecomposition may comprise from about 1% to about 60%, from about 5% toabout 30%, or from about 10% to about 25% by weight of the totalcomposition of a surfactant.

Suitable nonionic surfactants for use in the composition are alkoxylatedalcohol nonionic surfactants, which can be readily made by condensationprocesses which are well-known in the art. However, a great variety ofsuch alkoxylated alcohols, especially ethoxylated and/or propoxylatedalcohols, are conveniently commercially available. Surfactant catalogsare available which list a number of surfactants, including nonionics.Preferred alkoxylated alcohols for use herein are nonionic surfactantsaccording to the formula R¹O(E)_(e)(P)_(p)H where R¹ is a hydrocarbonchain of from about 2 to about 24 carbon atoms, E is ethylene oxide, Pis propylene oxide, and e and p which represent the average degree of,respectively ethoxylation and propoxylation, are of from about 0 toabout 24 (with the sum of e+p being at least 1). Preferably, thehydrophobic moiety of the nonionic compound can be a primary orsecondary, straight or branched alcohol having from about 8 to about 24carbon atoms.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include the condensation products ofethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with an alcohol having a straightor branched alkyl chain, having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms,wherein the degree of alkoxylation (ethoxylation and/or propoxylation)is from about 1 to about 15, preferably from about 5 to about 12. Suchsuitable nonionic surfactants are commercially available from Shell, forinstance, under the trade name Neodol® or from BASF under the trade nameLutensol®.

The composition may also include an anionic surfactant. Suitable anionicsurfactants can be any commonly known by those skilled in the art.Preferably, the anionic surfactant includes an alkyl sulphonate or amixture thereof; an alkyl aryl sulphonate or a mixture thereof; andmixtures thereof. Particularly suitable linear alkyl sulphonate includesC₈ sulphonate like Witconate NAS 8® commercially available from Witco.Other anionic surfactants useful herein include a salt (including, forexample, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium saltssuch as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of soap, an alkylsulphate, an alkyl aryl sulphate, an alkyl alkoxylated sulphate, aC₈-C₂₄ olefinsulfonate, a sulphonated polycarboxylic acid prepared bysulphonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates,e.g., as described in British patent specification No. 1,082,179; analkyl ester sulfonate such as C₁₄₋₁₆ methyl ester sulfonate; an acylglycerol sulfonate, an alkyl phosphate, an isethionate such as an acylisethionate, a N-acyl taurate, an alkyl succinamate, an acylsarcosinate, a sulfate of alkylpolysaccharide such as an sulfate ofalkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being describedbelow), an alkyl polyethoxy carboxylate such as those of the formulaR²O(CH₂CH₂O)_(k)CH₂COO—M⁺ wherein R² is a C₈-C₂₂ alkyl, k is an integerfrom about 0 to about 10, and M is a soluble salt-forming cation. Aresin acid and a hydrogenated resin acid are also suitable, such as arosin, a hydrogenated rosin, and a resin acid and a hydrogenated resinacid present in or derived from tall oil. Further examples are given in“Surface Active Agents and Detergents” (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perryand Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, issued Dec. 30, 1975 to Laughlin, et al. atColumn 23, line 58 through Column 29, line 23.

The composition may also include zwitterionic surfactants, especiallywhere the composition contains both basic and acidic groups which forman inner salt giving both cationic and anionic hydrophilic groups on thesame molecule at a relatively wide range of pH's. The typical cationicgroup is a quaternary ammonium group, although other positively chargedgroups like phosphonium, imidazolium and sulfonium groups can be used.The typical anionic hydrophilic groups are carboxylate and sulfonate,although other groups like sulfate, phosphonate, and the like can beused. Some common examples of zwitterionic surfactants (i.e.betaine/sulphobetaine) are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,082,275,2,702,279 and 2,255,082. For example coconut dimethyl betaine iscommercially available from Seppic under the trade name of Amonyl 265®.Lauryl betaine is commercially available from Albright & Wilson underthe trade name Empigen BB/L®. A further example of betaine islauryl-imino-dipropionate commercially available from Rhodia under thetrade name Mirataine H2C-HA®. Particularly preferred zwitterionicsurfactants for use in embodiments wherein the composition is a hardsurface cleaning composition is the sulfobetaine surfactant as itdelivers optimum soap scum cleaning benefits. Examples of particularlysuitable sulfobetaine surfactant include tallow bis(hydroxyethyl)sulphobetaine and cocoamido propyl hydroxy sulphobetaine which arecommercially available from Rhodia and Witco, under the trade name ofMirataine CBS® and Rewoteric AM CAS 15® respectively.

The composition may also include an amphoteric surfactant such as anamine oxide. Examples of amine oxides for use herein are for instancecoconut dimethyl amine oxide and C₁₂-C₁₆ dimethyl amine oxide. Saidamine oxides may be commercially available from Clariant, Stepan, andAKZO (under the trade name Aromox®). Other suitable amphotericsurfactants for the purpose of the invention are the phosphine orsulfoxide surfactants.

The composition may include a solvent. Solvents are generally used toensure preferred product quality for dissolution, thickness andaesthetics and to ensure better processing. The composition of thepresent invention may further comprise a solvent or a mixture thereof,as an optional ingredient. Typically, in embodiments wherein thecomposition is a hard surface cleaning composition, the composition maycomprise from about 0.1% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.5% toabout 5%, and more preferably from about 1% to about 3% by weight of thetotal composition of a solvent or a mixture thereof.

Suitable solvents include C₁-C₅ alcohols according to the formula R¹⁰—OHwherein R¹⁰ is a saturated alkyl group of from about 1 to about 5 carbonatoms, preferably from about 2 to about 4. Suitable alcohols areethanol, propanol, isopropanol or mixtures thereof. Other suitablealcohols are alkoxylated C₁₋₈ alcohols according to the formulaR¹¹-(A_(q))-OH wherein R¹¹ is a alkyl group of from about 1 to about 8carbon atoms, preferably from about 3 to about 6, and wherein A is analkoxy group, preferably propoxy and/or ethoxy, and q is an integer offrom 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 2. Suitable alcohols are butoxypropoxy propanol (n-BPP), butoxy propanol (n-BP), butoxyethanol, ormixtures thereof. Suitable alkoxylated aromatic alcohols to be usedherein are those according to the formula R¹²—(B)_(r)—OH wherein R¹² isan alkyl substituted or non-alkyl substituted aryl group of from about 1to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably from about 2 to about 15, and morepreferably from about 2 to about 10, wherein B is an alkoxy group,preferably a butoxy, propoxy and/or ethoxy, and r is an integer of from1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 2. A suitable aromatic alcohol to be usedherein is benzyl alcohol. Suitable alkoxylated aromatic alcohol isbenzylethanol and or benzylpropanol. Other suitable solvent includesbutyl diglycolether, benzylalcohol, propoxypropoxypropanol (EP 0 859044) ether and diether, glycol, alkoxylated glycol, C₆-C₁₆ glycol ether,alkoxylated aromatic alcohol, aromatic alcohol, aliphatic branchedalcohol, alkoxylated aliphatic branched alcohol, alkoxylated linearC₁-C₅ alcohol, linear C₁-C₅ alcohol, amine, C₈-C₁₄ alkyl and cycloalkylhydrocarbon and halohydrocarbon, and mixtures thereof.

The composition of the present invention may comprise a perfumeingredient, or mixtures thereof, in amount up to about 5.0% by weight ofthe total composition, preferably in amount of about 0.1% to about 1.5%.Suitable perfume compounds and compositions for use herein are forexample those described in EP-A-0 957 156 under the paragraph entitled“Perfume”, on page 13.

The composition according to the present invention may be colored.Accordingly, it may comprise a dye or a mixture thereof. Suitable dyesfor use herein are acid-stable dyes. By “acid-stable”, it is meantherein a compound which is chemically and physically stable in theacidic environment of the composition herein.

The composition may include a pH adjustment agent such as an alkalinematerial or an acidic material. If an alkaline material is used, it maybe present to trim the pH and/or maintain the pH of the compositionaccording to the present invention. The amount of alkaline material isfrom about 0.001% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.01% to about10%, and more preferably from about 0.05% to about 3% by weight of thecomposition. Examples of the alkaline material are sodium hydroxide,potassium hydroxide and/or lithium hydroxide, and/or the alkali metaloxide, such as sodium and/or potassium oxide, or mixtures thereof.Preferably, the source of alkalinity is sodium hydroxide or potassiumhydroxide, preferably sodium hydroxide.

If the composition includes an acidic pH adjustment agent, it mayinclude any suitable acid known to those skilled in the art. Typicallythe composition herein may comprise up to about 20%, preferably fromabout 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%,even more preferably from about 0.1% to about 3%, by weight of the totalcomposition of an acid. Suitable acids are selected from the groupconsisting of a mono- and poly-carboxylic acid or a mixture thereof; apercarboxylic acid or a mixture thereof; a substituted carboxylic acidor a mixture thereof; and mixtures thereof. Carboxylic acids usefulherein include C₁₋₆ linear or at least about 3 carbon containing cyclicacids. The linear or cyclic carbon-containing chain of the carboxylicacid may be substituted with a substituent group selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxyl, ester, ether, aliphatic groups having from about1 to about 6, more preferably from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, andmixtures thereof. Suitable mono- and poly-carboxylic acids are selectedfrom the group consisting of citric acid, lactic acid, ascorbic acid,isoascorbic acid, tartaric acid, formic acid, maleic acid, malic acid,malonic acid, propionic acid, acetic acid, dehydroacetic acid, benzoicacid, hydroxy benzoic acid, and mixtures thereof. Suitable percarboxylicacids are selected from the group consisting of peracetic acid,percarbonic acid, perboric acid, and mixtures thereof. Suitablesubstituted carboxylic acids are selected from the group consisting ofan amino acid or a mixture thereof; a halogenated carboxylic acid or amixture thereof; and mixtures thereof. Preferred acids for use hereinare selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, citric acid, andascorbic acid and mixtures thereof. More preferred acids for use hereinare selected from the group consisting of lactic acid and citric acidand mixtures thereof. An even more preferred acid for use herein islactic acid. Suitable acids are commercially available from JBL, T&L, orSigma. Lactic acid is commercially available from Sigma and Purac.

The composition may also include a salt, for example, as a pH buffer.Salts are generally present at an active level of from about 0.01% toabout 5%, from about 0.015% to about 3%, or from about 0.025% to about2.0%, by weight of the composition. When salts are included, the ionscan be selected from magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, and/ormagnesium, and preferably from sodium and magnesium, and are added as ahydroxide, chloride, acetate, sulphate, formate, oxide or nitrate saltto the composition of the present invention.

In another preferred embodiment, the composition of the presentinvention comprises a diamine or a mixture thereof as the pH buffer. Thecomposition will preferably contain from about 0% to about 15%,preferably from about 0.1% to about 15%, preferably from about 0.2% toabout 10%, more preferably from about 0.25% to about 6%, more preferablyfrom about 0.5% to about 1.5% by weight of the total composition of atleast one diamine Preferred organic diamines are those in which pK₁ andpK₂ are in the range of from about 8.0 to about 11.5, preferably in therange of from about 8.4 to about 11, even more preferably from about 8.6to about 10.75. Preferred materials include 1,3-bis(methylamine)cyclohexane (pKa=from about 10 to about 10.5), 1,3-propane diamine(pK₁=10.5; pK₂=8.8), 1,6-hexane diamine (pK₁=11; pK₂=10), 1,3-pentanediamine (DYTEK EP®) (pK₁=10.5; pK₂=8.9), 2-methyl-1,5-pentane diamine(DYTEK A®) (pK₁=11.2; pK₂=10.0). Other preferred materials includeprimary/primary diamines with alkylene spacers ranging from C₄ to C₈. Ingeneral, it is believed that primary diamines are preferred oversecondary and tertiary diamines. pKa is used herein in the same manneras is commonly known to people skilled in the art of chemistry: in anall-aqueous solution at 25° C. and for an ionic strength between about0.1 to about 0.5 M. values. Reference can be obtained from literature,such as from “Critical Stability Constants: Volume 2, Amines” by Smithand Martel, Plenum Press, NY and London, 1975.

The composition may also include a chelant. For example, the compositionof the present invention may comprise a chelant at a level of from about0.1% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.2% to about 5%, morepreferably from about 0.2% to about 3% by weight of total composition.Suitable chelants can be selected from the group consisting of an aminocarboxylate or a mixture thereof; an amino phosphonate or a mixturethereof; a polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelant or a mixturethereof; and mixtures thereof. Preferred chelants for use herein are theamino acid based chelants, and preferably glutamic-N,N-diacetic acid(GLDA) and derivatives, and/or phosphonate based chelants, andpreferably diethylenetriamine pentamethylphosphonic acid. GLDA (saltsand derivatives thereof) is especially preferred according to theinvention, with the tetrasodium salt thereof being especially preferred.Also preferred are amino carboxylates includingethylenediaminetetra-acetate, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate,nitrilo-triacetate, ethylenediamine tetrapro-prionate,triethylenetetraaminehexacetate, diethylenetriaminepentaacetate,ethanoldi-glycine; and alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted ammoniumsalts thereof; and mixtures thereof; as well as MGDA(methyl-glycine-diacetic acid), and salts and derivatives thereof.

Other chelants include homopolymers and copolymers of polycarboxylicacids and their partially or completely neutralized salts, monomericpolycarboxylic acids and hydroxycarboxylic acids and their salts.Preferred salts of the above-mentioned compounds are the ammonium and/oralkali metal salts, i.e. the lithium, sodium, and potassium salts, andparticularly preferred salts are the sodium salts. Suitablepolycarboxylic acids are acyclic, alicyclic, heterocyclic and aromaticcarboxylic acids, in which case they contain at least about two carboxylgroups which are in each case separated from one another by, preferably,no more than about two carbon atoms. Polycarboxylates which comprise twocarboxyl groups include, for example, water-soluble salts of, malonicacid, (ethyl enedioxy) diacetic acid, maleic acid, diglycolic acid,tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric acid. Polycarboxylates whichcontain three carboxyl groups include, for example, water-solublecitrate. Correspondingly, a suitable hydroxycarboxylic acid is, forexample, citric acid. Another suitable polycarboxylic acid is thehomopolymer of acrylic acid. Preferred are the polycarboxylates endcapped with sulfonates. Further suitable polycarboxylates chelants foruse herein include acetic acid, succinic acid, formic acid; allpreferably in the form of a water-soluble salt. Other suitablepolycarboxylates are oxodisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinate andmixtures of tartrate monosuccinic and tartrate disuccinic acid such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,071.

Amino phosphonates are also suitable for use as chelant and includeethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonates) as DEQUEST. Preferably,these amino phosphonates do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups withmore than about 6 carbon atoms. Polyfunctionally-substituted aromaticchelants are also useful in the composition herein, such as described inU.S. Pat. No. 3,812,044. Preferred compounds of this type in acid formare dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.

The composition of the present invention may optionally comprise ahydrotrope in an effective amount so that the composition isappropriately compatible in water. The composition of the presentinvention typically comprises from about 0% to about 15% by weight ofthe total composition of a hydrotropic, or mixtures thereof, preferablyfrom about 1% to about 10%, preferably from about 3% to about 6%.Suitable hydrotropes for use herein include anionic-type hydrotropes,particularly sodium, potassium, and ammonium xylene sulphonate, sodium,potassium and ammonium toluene sulphonate, sodium potassium and ammoniumcumene sulphonate, and mixtures thereof, and related compounds, asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,903.

The composition of the present invention may optionally contain apolymeric suds stabilizer. These polymeric suds stabilizers provideextended suds volume and suds duration of the composition. Thecomposition preferably contains from about 0.01% to about 15%,preferably from about 0.05% to about 10%, more preferably from about0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the total composition of the polymericsuds booster/stabilizer. These polymeric suds stabilizers may beselected from homopolymers of a (N,N-dialkylamino) alkyl ester and a(N,N-dialkylamino) alkyl acrylate ester. The weight average molecularweight of the polymeric suds booster, determined via conventional gelpermeation chromatography, is from about 1,000 to about 2,000,000,preferably from about 5,000 to about 1,000,000, more preferably fromabout 10,000 to about 750,000, more preferably from about 20,000 toabout 500,000, even more preferably from about 35,000 to about 200,000.The polymeric suds stabilizer can optionally be present in the form of asalt, either an inorganic or organic salt, for example the citrate,sulphate, or nitrate salt of (N,N-dimethylamino)alkyl acrylate ester.

One preferred polymeric suds stabilizer is (N,N-dimethylamino)alkylacrylate ester, namely the acrylate ester represented by the formula(VII):

Other preferred suds boosting polymers are copolymers ofhydroxypropylacrylate/dimethyl aminoethylmethacrylate (copolymer ofHPA/DMAM), represented by the formulae VIII and IX

Another preferred class of polymeric suds booster polymers arehydrophobically modified cellulosic polymers having a weight averagemolecular weight (M_(w)) below about 45,000; preferably between about10,000 and about 40,000; more preferably between about 13,000 and about25,000. The hydrophobically modified cellulosic polymers include watersoluble cellulose ether derivatives, such as nonionic and cationiccellulose derivatives. Preferred cellulose derivatives includemethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof.

The cleaning composition can comprise a thickener. An increasedviscosity, especially low shear viscosity, provides longer contact timeand therefore improved penetration of greasy soil and/or particulatedgreasy soil to improve cleaning effectiveness, especially when appliedneat to the surface to be treated. Moreover, a high low shear viscosityimproves the phase stability of the liquid cleaning composition, andespecially improves the stability of the copolymer in compositions inthe liquid hard surface cleaning composition. Suitable thickenersinclude polyacrylate based polymers, preferably hydrophobically modifiedpolyacrylate polymers; hydroxyl ethyl cellulose, preferablyhydrophobically modified hydroxyl ethyl cellulose, xanthan gum,hydrogenated castor oil (HCO) and mixtures thereof. Preferred thickenersare polyacrylate based polymers, preferably hydrophobically modifiedpolyacrylate polymers. Preferably a water soluble copolymer based onmain monomers acrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, vinyl acetate,methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile and mixtures thereof, more preferablycopolymer is based on methacrylic acid and acrylic acid esters havingappearance of milky, low viscous dispersion. One preferredhydrologically modified polyacrylate polymer is Rheovis® AT 120, whichis commercially available from BASF.

When used, the cleaning composition may comprises from 0.1% to 10.0% byweight of the total composition of said thickener, preferably from 0.2%to 5.0%, more preferably from 0.2% to 2.5% and preferably from 0.2% to2.0%.

The cleaning composition may comprise an additional polymer. It has beenfound that the presence of a specific polymer as described herein, whenpresent, allows further improving the grease removal performance of theliquid composition due to the specific sudsing/foaming characteristicsthey provide to the composition. Suitable polymers for use herein aredisclosed in co-pending EP patent application EP2272942 (09164872.5) andgranted European patent EP2025743 (07113156.9). The polymer can beselected from the group consisting of: a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer(PVP); a polyethyleneglycol dimethylether (DM-PEG); avinylpyrrolidone/dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate or methacrylate copolymers;a polystyrenesulphonate polymer (PSS); a poly vinyl pyridine-N-oxide(PVNO); a polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymer (PVP-VI); apolyvinylpyrrolidone/polyacrylic acid copolymer (PVP-AA); apolyvinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymer (PVP-VA); a polyacrylicpolymer or polyacrylicmaleic copolymer; and a polyacrylic or polyacrylicmaleic phosphono end group copolymer; and mixtures thereof. Typically,the liquid hard surface cleaning composition may comprise from 0.005% to5.0% by weight of the total composition of said polymer, preferably from0.10% to 4.0%, more preferably from 0.1% to 3.0% and preferably from0.20% to 1.0%.

The cleaning composition may comprise a fatty acid as a highly preferredoptional ingredient, particularly as suds suppressors. Fatty acids aredesired herein as they reduce the sudsing of the liquid composition whenthe composition is rinsed off the surface to which it has been applied.Suitable fatty acids include the alkali salts of a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid.Such alkali salts include the metal fully saturated salts like sodium,potassium and/or lithium salts as well as the ammonium and/oralkylammonium salts of fatty acids, preferably the sodium salt.Preferred fatty acids for use herein contain from 8 to 22, preferablyfrom 8 to 20 and more preferably from 8 to 18 carbon atoms. Suitablefatty acids may be selected from caprylic acid, capric acid, lauricacid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, andmixtures of fatty acids suitably hardened, derived from natural sourcessuch as plant or animal esters (e.g., palm oil, olive oil, coconut oil,soybean oil, castor oil, tallow, ground oil, whale and fish oils and/orbabassu oil. For example coconut fatty acid is commercially availablefrom KLK OLEA under the name PALMERAB1211. Typically, the liquid hardsurface cleaning composition may comprise up to 6.0% by weight of thetotal composition of said fatty acid, preferably from 0.1% to 3.0%, morepreferably from 0.1% to 2.0% and preferably from 0.15% to 1.5% by weightof the total composition of said fatty acid.

The cleaning composition may comprise a branched fatty alcohol,particularly as suds suppressors. Suitable branched fatty alcoholsinclude the 2-alkyl alkanols having an alkyl chain comprising from 6 to16, preferably from 7 to 13, more preferably from 8 to 12, preferablyfrom 8 to 10 carbon atoms and a terminal hydroxy group, said alkyl chainbeing substituted in the α position (i.e., position number 2) by analkyl chain comprising from 1 to 10, preferably from 2 to 8 and morepreferably 4 to 6 carbon atoms. Such suitable compounds are commerciallyavailable, for instance, as the Isofol® series such as Isofol® 12(2-butyl octanol) or Isofol® 16 (2-hexyl decanol) commercially availablefrom Sasol. Typically, the liquid hard surface cleaning composition maycomprise up to 2.0% by weight of the total composition of said branchedfatty alcohol, preferably from 0.10% to 1.0%, more preferably from 0.1%to 0.8% and preferably from 0.1% to 0.5%.

The cleaning compositions described herein may include from about 0.1%to about 10%, in some examples, from about 0.2% to about 5%, and inother examples, from about 0.5% to about 3%, by weight the composition,of a polyetheramine.

In some aspects, the polyetheramine is represented by the structure ofFormula (I):

where each of R₁-R₆ is independently selected from H, alkyl, cycloalkyl,aryl, alkylaryl, or arylalkyl, where at least one of R₁-R₆ is differentfrom H, typically at least one of R₁-R₆ is an alkyl group having 2 to 8carbon atoms, each of A₁-A₆ is independently selected from linear orbranched alkylenes having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, typically 2 to 10 carbonatoms, more typically, 2 to 5 carbon atoms, each of Z₁-Z₂ isindependently selected from OH or NH₂, where at least one of Z₁-Z₂ isNH₂, typically each of Z₁ and Z₂ is NH₂, where the sum of x+y is in therange of about 2 to about 200, typically about 2 to about 20 or about 3to about 20, more typically about 2 to about 10 or about 3 to about 8 orabout 4 to about 6, where x≧1 and y≧1, and the sum of x₁+y₁ is in therange of about 2 to about 200, typically about 2 to about 20 or about 3to about 20, more typically about 2 to about 10 or about 3 to about 8 orabout 2 to about 4, where x₁≧1 and y₁≧1.

In some aspects, the polyetheramine is represented by the structure ofFormula (II):

where each of R₇-R₁₂ is independently selected from H, alkyl,cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, or arylalkyl, where at least one of R₇-R₁₂is different from H, typically at least one of R₇-R₁₂ is an alkyl grouphaving 2 to 8 carbon atoms, each of A₇-A₉ is independently selected fromlinear or branched alkylenes having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, typically 2 to10 carbon atoms, more typically, 2 to 5 carbon atoms, each of Z₃-Z₄ isindependently selected from OH or NH₂, where at least one of Z₃-Z₄ isNH₂, typically each of Z₃ and Z₄ is NH₂, where the sum of x+y is in therange of about 2 to about 200, typically about 2 to about 20 or about 3to about 20, more typically about 2 to about 10 or about 3 to about 8 orabout 2 to about 4, where x≧1 and y≧1, and the sum of x₁+y₁ is in therange of about 2 to about 200, typically about 2 to about 20 or about 3to about 20, more typically about 2 to about 10 or about 3 to about 8 orabout 2 to about 4, where x₁≧1 and y₁≧1.

The liquid hard surface cleaning compositions may comprise a variety ofother optional ingredients depending on the technical benefit aimed forand the surface treated. Suitable optional ingredients for use hereininclude perfume, builders, other polymers, buffers, bactericides,hydrotropes, colorants, stabilisers, radical scavengers, abrasives, soilsuspenders, brighteners, anti-dusting agents, dispersants, dye transferinhibitors, pigments, silicones and/or dyes.

The composition may also include a cleaning composition comprising atleast one fluorinated carbon compound (e.g. perfluoropolyether) and atleast one of the following components: a) a non-fluorinated solvent; andb) a surfactant. Examples of such compositions are disclosed in EP1440140.

One example of a hard surface cleaning composition is set forth in thefollowing table:

TABLE 1 Wt % Ethoxylated alkoxylated 0.001-0.05%  nonionic surfactantAdditional Nonionic  0.01-0.5% Surfactant Glycol ether based solvent 0.1-0.5% Quaternary Compound 0.01-0.08% Suds Suppressor 0.001-0.5%Minors and Water    to 100% pH 6-8

Sanitizing Compositions:

The method and device of the present invention may also be used tosanitize discrete areas of a surface. Similar to cleaning, this can helpreduce the amount of active material to be used and can target veryspecific areas in order to not damage the surrounding surface orenvironment.

The composition may include any sanitizing composition known to those ofordinary skill in the relevant art, including, but not limited to, alkylhalohydantoins, alkali metal haloisocyanurates, bleach, essential oils,non-quaternary ammonium based germicidal compounds as well as quaternaryammonium germicidal compounds. Other sanitizing compositions includequaternary ammonium compounds and salts thereof, including C8-C18 amineoxides and C12-C22 alk(en)yl morpholinium salts, C8-C12 protonated aminecompounds, including N,N-bis(3-aminopropyl)lauramine, as well as C8-C12dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts and C12-C18 alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium salts, and mixtures thereof. The composition may also includehydrogen peroxide and oxygen-release bleaching agents, such as, forexample, alkali metal perborates, e.g., sodium perborate, and alkalimetal monopersulfates, e.g., sodium monopersulfates, potassiummonopersulfate, alkali metal monoperphosphates, e.g., disodiummonoperphosphate and dipotassium monoperphosphate, as well as otherconventional bleaching agents capable of liberating hypohalite, e.g.,hypochlorite and/or hypobromite, include heterocyclic N-bromo- andN-chloro-cyanurates such as trichloroisocyanuric and tribromoiscyanuricacid, dibromocyanuric acid, dichlorocyanuric acid,N-monobromo-N-mono-chlorocyanuric acid andN-monobromo-N,N-dichlorocyanuric acid, as well as the salts thereof withwater solubilizing cations such as potassium and sodium, e.g., sodiumN-monobromo-N-monochlorocyanurate, potassium dichlorocyanurate, sodiumdichlorocyanurate, as well as other N-bromo and N-chloro-imides, such asN-brominated and N-chlorinated succinimide, malonimide, phthalimide andnaphthalimide.

The composition may also include solid peracids such asphtalimidoperhexanoic acid (PAP), nonoylbenzene suffonate, m-chloroperbenzoic acid, as well as C1-C12 peroxyacids which are formed asequilibrium mixtures in acidic media in the presence of hydrogenperoxide. Preferred peraoxyacids are peroxyacetic acid, peroxyoctanoicacid and peroxynonanoic acid, and mixtures thereof.

The composition may also include biguanides which are hydrophiliccationic molecules, and the compounds of potential interest includechlorhexidine slats (diacetate, digluconate, etc.) and polyhexamethylenebiguanide (PHMB) comprising from about 5 to about 25 repeat units onaverage.

The composition may also include iodine, iodine salts such potassiumiodate (KIO3), and iodophors including iodine complexes formed withnonionic surfactants and complexes with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP-I2),and mixtures thereof.

The composition may also include organic acids, such as, for example,citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid,malonic acid, maleic acid, octanoic acid and 2-hydroxypropionic acid,and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred are citric acid and lacticacid.

The composition may also include antimicrobial metal salts. This classgenerally includes salts of metals in groups 3b-7b, 8 and 3a-5a.Specifically are the salts of aluminum, zirconium, zinc, silver, gold,copper, lanthanum, tin, bismuth, selenium, strontium, scandium, yttrium,cerium, praseodymiun, neodymium, promethum, samarium, europium,gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium,lutetium and mixtures thereof.

The composition may also include germicidally effective agents useful assanitizing agents include sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DCCNa) and sodiumdibromoisocyanurate. Examples of non-quaternary ammonium basedsanitizing agents include pyrithiones, dimethyldimethylol hydantoin,methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone sodium sulfite, sodiumbisulfite, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, benzyl alcohol,2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, formalin (formaldehyde), iodopropenylbutylcarbamate, chloroacetamide, methanamine, methyldibromonitrileglutaronitrile, glutaraldehyde, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, phenethylalcohol, o-phenylphenol/sodium o-phenylphenol, sodiumhydroxymethylglycinate, polymethoxy bicyclic oxazolidine, dimethoxane,thimersal dichlorobenzyl alcohol, captan, chlorphenenesin,dichlorophene, chlorbutanol, glyceryl laurate, halogenated diphenylethers, phenolic compounds, mono- and poly-alkyl and aromatichalophenols, resorcinol and its derivatives, bisphenolic compounds,benzoic esters (parabens), halogenated carbanilides,3-trifluoromethyl-4,4′-dichlorocarbanilide, and3,3′,4-trichlorocarbanilide. More preferably, the non-cationicantimicrobial agent is a mono- and poly-alkyl and aromatic halophenolselected from the group p-chlorophenol, methyl p-chlorophenol, ethylp-chlorophenol, n-propyl p-chlorophenol, n-butyl p-chlorophenol, n-amylp-chlorophenol, sec-amyl p-chlorophenol, n-hexyl p-chlorophenol,cyclohexyl p-chlorophenol, n-heptyl p-chlorophenol, n-octylp-chlorophenol, o-chlorophenol, methyl o-chlorophenol, ethylo-chlorophenol, n-propyl o-chlorophenol, n-butyl o-chlorophenol, n-amylo-chlorophenol, tert-amyl o-chlorophenol, n-hexyl o-chlorophenol,n-heptyl o-chlorophenol, o-benzyl p-chlorophenol, o-benzyl-m-methylp-chlorophenol, o-benzyl-m, m-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, o-phenylethylp-chlorophenol, o-phenylethyl-m-methyl p-chlorophenol, 3-methylp-chlorophenol, 3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-ethyl-3-methylp-chlorophenol, 6-n-propyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol,6-iso-propyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylp-chlorophenol, 6-sec-butyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, 2-iso-propyl-3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-diethylmethyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol,6-iso-propyl-2-ethyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, 2-sec-amyl-3,5-dimethylp-chlorophenol 2-diethylmethyl-3,5-dimethylp-chlorophenol,6-sec-octyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, p-chloro-m-cresol, p-bromophenol,methyl p-bromophenol, ethyl p-bromophenol, n-propyl p-bromophenol,n-butyl p-bromophenol, n-amyl p-bromophenol, sec-amyl p-bromophenol,n-hexyl p-bromophenol, cyclohexyl p-bromophenol, o-bromophenol,tert-amyl o-bromophenol, n-hexyl o-bromophenol, n-propyl-m,m-dimethylo-bromophenol, 2-phenyl phenol, 4-chloro-2-methyl phenol,4-chloro-3-methyl phenol, 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl phenol,2,4-dichloro-3,5-dimethylphenol, 3,4,5,6-terabromo-2-methylphenol,5-methyl-2-pentylphenol, 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol,para-chloro-meta-xylenol, dichloro meta xylenol, chlorothymol, and5-chloro-2-hydroxydiphenylmethane.

Suitable exemplary sanitizing compositions are described in more detailin U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,541; U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,279; U.S. Pat. No.7,632,523.

Spot Cleaning:

The method and device of the present invention may also be used forsurface spot cleaning and/or deodorizing of surfaces and materials suchas carpeting, drapes, blinds, clothing, wall-paper, and the like.Examples of suitable compositions for use with the device and method ofthe present invention are disclosed in WO 95/04127; WO 96/015308; and WO200026329.

The composition may also include one or more enzymes. Suitable enzymesinclude proteases, amylases, cellulases, lipases, xylogucanases, pectatelyases, mannanases, bleaching enzymes, cutinases, and mixtures thereof.

For the enzymes, accession numbers or IDs shown in parentheses refer tothe entry numbers in the databases Genbank, EMBL and Swiss-Prot. For anymutations standard 1-letter amino acid codes are used with a *representing a deletion. Accession numbers prefixed with DSM refer tomicroorganisms deposited at Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen andZellkulturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1b, 38124 Brunswick (DSMZ).

The composition may comprise a protease. Suitable proteases includemetalloproteases and/or serine proteases, including neutral or alkalinemicrobial serine proteases, such as subtilisins (EC 3.4.21.62). Suitableproteases include those of animal, vegetable or microbial origin. In oneaspect, such suitable protease may be of microbial origin. The suitableproteases include chemically or genetically modified mutants of theaforementioned suitable proteases. In one aspect, the suitable proteasemay be a serine protease, such as an alkaline microbial protease or/anda trypsin-type protease. Examples of suitable neutral or alkalineproteases include:

(a) subtilisins (EC 3.4.21.62), including those derived from Bacillus,such as Bacillus lentus, Bacillus alkalophilus (P27963, ELYA_BACAO),Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (P00782, SUBT_BACAM),Bacillus pumilus (P07518) and Bacillus gibsonii (DSM14391).

(b) trypsin-type or chymotrypsin-type proteases, such as trypsin (e.g.of porcine or bovine origin), including the Fusarium protease and thechymotrypsin proteases derived from Cellumonas (A2RQE2).

(c) metalloproteases, including those derived from Bacillusamyloliquefaciens (P06832, NPRE_BACAM).

Preferred proteases include those derived from Bacillus gibsonii orBacillus Lentus such as subtilisin 309 (P29600) and/or DSM 5483(P29599).

Suitable commercially available protease enzymes include: those soldunder the trade names Alcalase®, Savinase®, Primase®, Durazym®,Polarzyme®, Kannase®, Liquanase®, Liquanase Ultra®, Savinase Ultra®,Ovozyme®, Neutrase®, Everlase® and Esperase® by Novozymes A/S (Denmark);those sold under the tradename Maxatase®, Maxacal®, Maxapem®,Properase®, Purafect®, Purafect Prime®, Purafect Ox®, FN3®, FN4®,Excellase® and Purafect OXP® by Genencor International; those sold underthe tradename Opticlean® and Optimase® by Solvay Enzymes; thoseavailable from Henkel/Kemira, namely BLAP (P29599 having the followingmutations S99D+S101 R+S103A+V104I+G159S), and variants thereof includingBLAP R (BLAP with S3T+V4I+V199M+V205I+L217D), BLAP X (BLAP withS3T+V4I+V205I) and BLAP F49 (BLAP with S3T+V4I+A194P+V199M+V205I+L217D)all from Henkel/Kemira; and KAP (Bacillus alkalophilus subtilisin withmutations A230V+S256G+S259N) from Kao.

Suitable amylases are alpha-amylases, including those of bacterial orfungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants (variants) areincluded. A preferred alkaline alpha-amylase is derived from a strain ofBacillus, such as Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, or other Bacillus sp.,such as Bacillus sp. NCIB 12289, NCIB 12512, NCIB 12513, sp 707, DSM9375, DSM 12368, DSMZ no. 12649, KSM AP1378, KSM K36 or KSM K38.Preferred amylases include: (a) alpha-amylase derived from Bacilluslicheniformis (P06278, AMY_BACLI), and variants thereof, especially thevariants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions:15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 181, 188, 190, 197, 202, 208,209, 243, 264, 304, 305, 391, 408, and 444 (b) AA560 amylase (CBU30457,HD066534) and variants thereof, especially the variants with one or moresubstitutions in the following positions: 26, 30, 33, 82, 37, 106, 118,128, 133, 149, 150, 160, 178, 182, 186, 193, 203, 214, 231, 256, 257,258, 269, 270, 272, 283, 295, 296, 298, 299, 303, 304, 305, 311, 314,315, 318, 319, 339, 345, 361, 378, 383, 419, 421, 437, 441, 444, 445,446, 447, 450, 461, 471, 482, 484, preferably that also contain thedeletions of D183* and G184* (c) variants exhibiting at least 90%identity with the wild-type enzyme from Bacillus SP722 (CBU30453,HD066526), especially variants with deletions in the 183 and 184positions.

Suitable commercially available alpha-amylases are Duramyl®, Liquezyme®Termamyl®, Termamyl Ultra®, Natalase®, Supramyl®, Stainzyme®, StainzymePlus®, Fungamyl® and BAN® (Novozymes A/S), Bioamylase® and variantsthereof (Biocon India Ltd.), Kemzym® AT 9000 (Biozym Ges. m.b.H,Austria), Rapidase®, Purastar®, Optisize HT Plus®, Enzysize®, Powerase®and Purastar Oxam®, Maxamyl® (Genencor International Inc.) and KAM®(KAO, Japan). Preferred amylases are Natalase®, Stainzyme® and StainzymePlus®.

The composition may comprise a cellulase. Suitable cellulases includethose of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or proteinengineered mutants are included. Suitable cellulases include cellulasesfrom the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia,Acremonium, e.g., the fungal cellulases produced from Humicola insolens,Myceliophthora thermophila and Fusarium oxysporum.

Commercially available cellulases include Celluzyme®, and Carezyme®(Novozymes A/S), Clazinase®, and Puradax HA® (Genencor InternationalInc.), and KAC-500(B)® (Kao Corporation).

In one aspect, the cellulase can include microbial-derivedendoglucanases exhibiting endo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity (E.C.3.2.1.4), including a bacterial polypeptide endogenous to a member ofthe genus Bacillus which has a sequence of at least 90%, 94%, 97% andeven 99% identity to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 in U.S. Pat.No. 7,141,403) and mixtures thereof. Suitable endoglucanases are soldunder the tradenames Celluclean® and Whitezyme® (Novozymes A/S,Bagsvaerd, Denmark).

Preferably, the composition comprises a cleaning cellulase belonging toGlycosyl Hydrolase family 45 having a molecular weight of from 17 kDa to30 kDa, for example the endoglucanases sold under the tradenameBiotouch® NCD, DCC and DCL (AB Enzymes, Darmstadt, Germany).

Highly preferred cellulases also exhibit xyloglucanase activity, such asWhitezyme®.

The composition may comprise a lipase. Suitable lipases include those ofbacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineeredmutants are included. Examples of useful lipases include lipases fromHumicola (synonym Thermomyces), e.g., from H. lanuginosa (T.lanuginosus), or from H. insolens, a Pseudomonas lipase, e.g., from P.alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes, P. cepacia, P. stutzeri, P.fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp. strain SD 705, P. wisconsinensis, aBacillus lipase, e.g., from B. subtilis, B. stearothermophilus or B.pumilus.

The lipase may be a “first cycle lipase”, preferably a variant of thewild-type lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus comprising T231R and N233Rmutations. The wild-type sequence is the 269 amino acids (amino acids23-291) of the Swissprot accession number Swiss-Prot O59952 (derivedfrom Thermomyces lanuginosus (Humicola lanuginosa)). Preferred lipaseswould include those sold under the tradenames Lipex®, Lipolex® andLipoclean® by Novozymes, Bagsvaerd, Denmark.

Preferably, the composition comprises a variant of Thermomyceslanuginosa (O59952) lipase having >90% identity with the wild type aminoacid and comprising substitution(s) at T231 and/or N233, preferablyT231R and/or N233R.

In another aspect, the composition comprises a variant of Thermomyceslanuginosa (O59952) lipase having >90% identity with the wild type aminoacid and comprising substitution(s):

(a) S58A+V60S+I83T+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(b) S58A+V60S+I86V+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(c) S58A+V60S+I86V+T143S+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(d)S58A+V60S+I86V+T143S+A150G+G163K+S216P+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(e) E1*+S58A+V60S+I86V+T143S+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(f) S58A+V60S+I86V+K98I+E99K+T143S+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(g)E1N+S58A+V60S+I86V+K98I+E99K+T143S+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K+L259F;

(h)S58A+V60S+I86V+K98I+E99K+D102A+T143S+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(i) N33Q+S58A+V60S+I86V+T143S+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(j)E1*+S58A+V60S+I86V+K98I+E99K+T143S+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(k)E1N+S58A+V60S+I86V+K98I+E99K+T143S+A150G+S216P+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(l) D27N+S58A+V60S+I86V+G91N+N94R+D1 UN+T143S+A150G+L227G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K;

(m)E1N+S58A+V60S+I86V+K98I+E99K+T143S+A150G+E210A+S216P+L227G+T231R+N233R+1255A+P256K;

(n) A150G+E210V+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K; and

(o) I202L+E210G+T231R+N233R+I255A+P256K.

Suitable xyloglucanase enzymes have enzymatic activity towards bothxyloglucan and amorphous cellulose substrates, wherein the enzyme is aglycosyl hydrolase (GH) is selected from GH families 5, 12, 44 or 74.Preferably, the glycosyl hydrolase is selected from GH family 44.Suitable glycosyl hydrolases from GH family 44 are the XYG1006 glycosylhydrolase from Paenibacillus polyxyma (ATCC 832) and variants thereof.

Suitable pectate lyases are either wild-types or variants ofBacillus-derived pectate lyases (CAF05441, AAU25568) sold under thetradenames Pectawash®, Pectaway® and X-Pect® (from Novozymes A/S,Bagsvaerd, Denmark).

Suitable mannanases are sold under the tradenames Mannaway® (fromNovozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark), and Purabrite® (GenencorInternational Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.).

Suitable bleach enzymes include oxidoreductases, for example oxidasessuch as glucose, choline or carbohydrate oxidases, oxygenases,catalases, peroxidases, like halo-, chloro-, bromo-, lignin-, glucose-or manganese-peroxidases, dioxygenases or laccases (phenoloxidases,polyphenoloxidases). Suitable commercial products are sold under theGuardzyme® and Denilite® ranges from Novozymes. Advantageously,additional, preferably organic, particularly preferably aromaticcompounds are incorporated with the bleaching enzyme; these compoundsinteract with the bleaching enzyme to enhance the activity of theoxidoreductase (enhancer) or to facilitate the electron flow (mediator)between the oxidizing enzyme and the stain typically over stronglydifferent redox potentials.

Other suitable bleaching enzymes include perhydrolases, which catalysethe formation of peracids from an ester substrate and peroxygen source.Suitable perhydrolases include variants of the Mycobacterium smegmatisperhydrolase, variants of so-called CE-7 perhydrolases, and variants ofwild-type subtilisin Carlsberg possessing perhydrolase activity.

Suitable cutinases are defined by E.C. Class 3.1.1.73, preferablydisplaying at least 90%, or 95%, or most preferably at least 98%identity with a wild-type derived from one of Fusarium solani,Pseudomonas Mendocina or Humicola Insolens.

The relativity between two amino acid sequences is described by theparameter “identity”. For purposes of the present invention, thealignment of two amino acid sequences is determined by using the Needleprogram from the EMBOSS package (http://emboss.org) version 2.8.0. TheNeedle program implements the global alignment algorithm described inNeedleman, S. B. and Wunsch, C. D. (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48, 443-453. Thesubstitution matrix used is BLOSUM62, gap opening penalty is 10, and gapextension penalty is 0.5.

Alkoxylated polycarboxylates such as those prepared from polyacrylatesare useful herein to provide additional grease removal performance Suchmaterials are described in WO 91/08281 and PCT 90/01815. Chemically,these materials comprise polyacrylates having one ethoxy side-chain perevery 7-8 acrylate units. The side-chains are of the formula —(CH2CH2O)m(CH2)nCH3 wherein m is 2-3 and n is 6-12. The side-chains areester-linked to the polyacrylate “backbone” to provide a “comb” polymertype structure. The molecular weight can vary, but is typically in therange of about 2000 to about 50,000. Such alkoxylated polycarboxylatescan comprise from about 0.05% to about 10%, by weight, of thecompositions herein.

The compositions disclosed herein may also comprise amphiphilic graftco-polymers. In some aspects, the amphiphilic graft co-polymer comprises(i) a polyethyelene glycol backbone; and (ii) and at least one pendantmoiety selected from polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and mixturesthereof. A preferred amphiphilic graft co-polymer is Sokalan HP22,supplied from BASF.

Stain Prevention:

The method and device of the present invention may also be used forstain prevention on surfaces and materials. Stain preventioncompositions that could be used with the present invention are describedin more detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,633,146; and U.S. Pat. No.8,637,442.

Pre-Treating:

The method and device of the present invention may also be used forpre-treating surfaces and materials. Pre-treating can help make cleaningand other tasks easier or can be used to place material onto a surfacein anticipation of a subsequent treatment or use of the surface ormaterial. Pre-treating compositions that could be used with the presentinvention include, but are not limited to simple short chain alcohols,alcohol Alkoxylates and solvactants, such as C8P2, C6P1, etc. Additionalpre-treating compositions include alkyl phenols and alkyl phenolethoxylates such as, for example, C4-C6PhOH, C4-C6PhE1, etc. Yet otherpre-treating compositions include longer chain alcohols and ethoxylatesand glycerol ethers, such as, for example, C12, and C14.

Perfume and Malodor Control:

The method and device of the present invention may be used to dispensecompositions including perfumes and malodor control substances. Oftenperfumes mask scents whereas malodor control technologies do not undulyinterfere with the scent of the perfumed or unperfumed situs that istreated with the malodor control technology.

Suitable presumes may include materials selected from the groupconsisting of perfumes such as 3-(4-t-butylphenyl)-2-methyl propanal,3-(4-t-butylphenyl)-propanal, 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal,3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-methylpropanal, and2,6-dimethyl-5-heptenal, α-damascone, β-damascone, δ-damascone,β-damascenone, 6,7-dihydro-1,1,2,3,3-pentamethyl-4(5H)-indanone,methyl-7,3 -dihydro-2H-1,5-benzodioxepine-3-one,2-[2-(4-methyl-3-cyclohexenyl-1-yl)propyl]cyclopentan-2-one,2-sec-butylcyclohexanone, and β-dihydro ionone, linalool, ethyllinalool,tetrahydrolinalool, and dihydromyrcenol.

The compositions may comprise one or more perfume delivery technologiesthat stabilize and enhance the deposition and release of perfumeingredients from treated substrate. Such perfume delivery technologiescan also be used to increase the longevity of perfume release from thetreated substrate. Perfume delivery technologies, methods of makingcertain perfume delivery technologies and the uses of such perfumedelivery technologies are disclosed in US 2007/0275866 A1.

In one aspect, the compositions of the present invention may comprisefrom about 0.001% to about 20%, or from about 0.01% to about 10%, orfrom about 0.05% to about 5%, or even from about 0.1% to about 0.5% byweight of the perfume delivery technology. In one aspect, said perfumedelivery technologies may be selected from the group consisting of:perfume microcapsules, pro-perfumes, polymer particles, functionalizedsilicones, polymer assisted delivery, molecule assisted delivery, fiberassisted delivery, amine assisted delivery, cyclodextrins, starchencapsulated accord, zeolite and inorganic carrier, and mixturesthereof.

In one aspect, said perfume delivery technology may comprisemicrocapsules formed by at least partially surrounding a benefit agentwith a wall material. Said benefit agent may include materials selectedfrom the group consisting of perfumes such as3-(4-t-butylphenyl)-2-methyl propanal, 3-(4-t-butylphenyl)-propanal,3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal,3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-methylpropanal, and2,6-dimethyl-5-heptenal, α-damascone, β-damascone, δ-damascone,β-damascenone, 6,7-dihydro-1,1,2,3,3-pentamethyl-4(5H)-indanone,methyl-7,3-dihydro-2H-1,5-benzodioxepine-3-one,2-[2-(4-methyl-3-cyclohexenyl-1-yl)propyl]cyclopentan-2-one,2-sec-butylcyclohexanone, and β-dihydro ionone, linalool, ethyllinalool,tetrahydrolinalool, and dihydromyrcenol. Suitable perfume materials canbe obtained from Givaudan Corp. of Mount Olive, N.J., USA, InternationalFlavors & Fragrances Corp. of South Brunswick, N.J., USA, or Quest Corp.of Naarden, Netherlands. In one aspect, the microcapsule wall materialmay comprise: melamine, polyacrylamide, silicones, silica, polystyrene,polyurea, polyurethanes, polyacrylate based materials, gelatin, styrenemalic anhydride, polyamides, and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, saidmelamine wall material may comprise melamine crosslinked withformaldehyde, melamine-dimethoxyethanol crosslinked with formaldehyde,and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, said polystyrene wall material maycomprise polyestyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene. In one aspect,said polyurea wall material may comprise urea crosslinked withformaldehyde, urea crosslinked with gluteraldehyde, and mixturesthereof. In one aspect, said polyacrylate based materials may comprisepolyacrylate formed from methylmethacrylate/dimethylaminomethylmethacrylate, polyacrylate formed from amine acrylate and/ormethacrylate and strong acid, polyacrylate formed from carboxylic acidacrylate and/or methacrylate monomer and strong base, polyacrylateformed from an amine acrylate and/or methacrylate monomer and acarboxylic acid acrylate and/or carboxylic acid methacrylate monomer,and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, the perfume microcapsule may becoated with a deposition aid, a cationic polymer, a non-ionic polymer,an anionic polymer, or mixtures thereof. Suitable polymers may beselected from the group consisting of: polyvinylformaldehyde, partiallyhydroxylated polyvinylformaldehyde, polyvinylamine, polyethyleneimine,ethoxylated polyethyleneimine, polyvinylalcohol, polyacrylates, andcombinations thereof. In one aspect, the microcapsule may be a perfumemicrocapsule. In one aspect, one or more types of microcapsules, forexample two microcapsules types having different benefit agents may beused.

In one aspect, the perfume delivery technology may comprise an aminereaction product (ARP) or a thio reaction product. One may also use“reactive” polymeric amines and or polymeric thiols in which the amineand/or thiol functionality is pre-reacted with one or more PRMs to forma reaction product. Typically the reactive amines are primary and/orsecondary amines, and may be part of a polymer or a monomer(non-polymer). Such ARPs may also be mixed with additional PRMs toprovide benefits of polymer-assisted delivery and/or amine-assisteddelivery. Nonlimiting examples of polymeric amines include polymersbased on polyalkylimines, such as polyethyleneimine (PEI), orpolyvinylamine (PVAm). Nonlimiting examples of monomeric (non-polymeric)amines include hydroxyl amines, such as 2-aminoethanol and its alkylsubstituted derivatives, and aromatic amines such as anthranilates. TheARPs may be premixed with perfume or added separately in leave-on orrinse-off applications. In another aspect, a material that contains aheteroatom other than nitrogen and/or sulfur, for example oxygen,phosphorus or selenium, may be used as an alternative to aminecompounds. In yet another aspect, the aforementioned alternativecompounds can be used in combination with amine compounds. In yetanother aspect, a single molecule may comprise an amine moiety and oneor more of the alternative heteroatom moieties, for example, thiols,phosphines and selenols. The benefit may include improved delivery ofperfume as well as controlled perfume release. Suitable ARPs as well asmethods of making same can be found in USPA 2005/0003980 A1 and U.S.Pat. No. 6,413,920 B1.

Examples of compositions that can be used for odor control include, butare not limited to, SPMB, FFEs, Cyclodextrin, malodor moderators,anti-Oxidants, Cremophor, BEEPA-like oligomers, cyclodextrin (disclosedin WO 200116266) and odor masking technologies such as Haloscentavailable from Firminich.

The following are examples of liquid compositions that can be used asodor control or freshening compositions.

EXAMPLE 1

wt % Active Ingredient A B C D E Deionized Water Balance Balance BalanceBalance Balance Ethanol 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 Lupasol HF¹ NIL NIL NIL NILNIL Hydroxypropyl b-CD NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL Diethylene Glycol NIL NIL NILNIL NIL Silwet L-7600 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.100 0.100 Basophor EL60² NIL 0.050.05 0.05 0.05 Maleic Acid and/or Citric Acid³ As As As As As neededneeded needed needed needed Koralone B-119 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015Hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL Sodium Hydroxide³ As AsAs As As needed needed needed needed needed Malodor Reducing CompositionNIL 0.05% NIL NIL NIL from EXAMPLE 2B Malodor Reducing Composition NILNIL 0.05% NIL NIL from EXAMPLE 2C Malodor Reducing Composition NIL NILNIL 0.05% NIL from EXAMPLE 3 Malodor Reducing Composition NIL NIL NILNIL 0.05% from EXAMPLE 4 Fragrance 0 0 0 0 0 Target pH 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.86.8 Total 100 100 100 100 100

EXAMPLE 2

% wt Active Ingredients CAS# B C 2,2,7,7-tetramethyl- 23787-90-8 20 20tricyclo(6.2.1.0(l,6))- undecan-5-one 3-(3,3-dimethyl-2,3- 173445-65-37.5 10 dihydro-1H-inden-5- yl)propanal (E)-3,7-dimethylocta- 3681-73-040 NIL 2,6-dien-1-yl palmitate 3-methyl-5-phenyl- 55066-48-3 10 10pentan-1-ol 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro- 5413-60-5 4 204,7-methano-1H-inden- (5 and 6)-yl acetate 3-(6,6-dimethyl- 33885-52-810.000 NIL bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-en- 2-yl)-2,2-dimethylpropanal3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro- 4430-31-3 5.000 NIL chromen-2-one(E)-3,7-dimethylocta- 3338-55-4 3.000 NIL 1,3,6-triene1-((2-(tert-butyl)cyclo- 139504-68-0 0.500 NIL hexyl)oxy)butan-2-ol2,2,7,7-tetramethyl- 23787-90-8 NIL 20.000 tricyclo(6.2.1.0(l,6))-undecan-5-one 7-methyloctyl acetate 58430-94-7 NIL 40.0001-((2-(tert-butyl)cyclo- 139504-68-0 to 100 to 100 hexyl)oxy)butan-2-ol

EXAMPLE 3

% wt Ingredients CAS# Active 5-Cyclohexadecen-1-One 37609-25-9 2.62,2,7,7,8,9,9-heptamethyldecahydro- 647828-16-8 0.005indeno[4,3a-b]furan 1,1,2,3,3-pentamethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7- 33704-61-9 0.3hexahydro-4H-inden-4-one (3R,3aR,6S,7S,8aS)-6-methoxy-3,6,8,8-19870-74-7 6 tetramethyloctahydro-1H-3a,7- methanoazuleneDodecanenitrile 2437-25-4 0.06 Trans 4-Decenal 65405-70-1 0.001 Decanal112-31-2 3 (E)-3-methylcyclopentadec-4-en- 82356-51-2 0.4 1-oneOxydibenzene 101-84-8 0.5 Dipropylene Glycol 25265-71-8 0.0543a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7-methano- 54830-99-8 4 1H-inden-(5 and 6)-ylacetate 3-(2-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethyl- 67634-15-5 3 propanal3-(3-isopropylphenyl)butanal 125109-85-5 0.68,8-dimethyl-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexa- 68912-13-0 6hydro-1H-4,7-methanoinden-6-yl propionate 2-(8-isopropyl-6-methyl-68901-32-6 10 bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-yl)- 1,3-dioxolane dE)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl 3681-73-0 10 palmitate 7-methyloctylacetate 40379-24-6 3 2,2,7,7-tetramethyl- 23787-90-8 10tricyclo(6.2.1.0(1,6))-undecan-5- one (1-methyl-2-((1,2,2- 198404-98-70.1 trimethylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexan- 3-yl)methyl)cyclopropyl)methanolDodecanal 112-54-9 0.6 Linalyl Benzoate 126-64-7 1.744-(tert-butyl)cyclohexyl acetate 32210-23-4 4octahydro-1H-4,7-methanoindene- 30772-79-3 0.26 1-carbaldehyde methyl2-(3-oxo-2-pentylcyclo- 24851-98-7 4.15 pentyl)acetate(Z)-1,2-dimethoxy-4-(prop-1-en- 93-16-3 18.23 1-yl)benzene MethylPalmitate 112-39-0 3 3-(3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H- 300371-33-9 0.4inden-5-yl)propanal 4-tert-butyl cyclohexanol 98-52-2 0.053-methyl-5-phenylpentan-1-ol 55066-48-3 3.52-isobutyl-4-methyltetrahydro- 63500-71-0 1.6 2H-pyran-4-ol(E)-4-methyldec-3-en-5-ol 81782-77-6 0.8 Undecanal 112-44-7 1.7undec-10-enal 112-45-8 0.35

EXAMPLE 4

% wt Ingredients CAS# Active (3R,3aR,6S,7S,8aS)-6-methoxy- 19870-74-72.00 3,6,8,8-tetramethyloctahydro- 1H-3a,7-methanoazulene1-(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro- 54464-57-2 15.00 2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthyl)ethan-1-one. Oxacyclohexadec-12-en-2-one, 1118-80-2 15.00(12E)- 5-cyclohexadecenone 37609-25-9 16.504,8-dimethyl-2-(propan-2-ylidene)- 117-98-6 5.00 1,2,3,3a,4,5,6,8a-octahydroazulen-6-yl acetate isopropyl tetradecanoate 110-27-0 12.25(Z)-4,11,11-trimethyl-8- 32214-91-8 3.50 methylenebicyclo[7.2.0]undec-3-en-5-yl acetate (E)-cycloheptadec-9-en-1-one 542-46-1 14.00(E)-cyclohexadec-8-en-1-one 3100-36-5 14.00 4-((2R)-1,7,7-trimethyl-66072-32-0 2.75 bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan- 2-yl)cyclohexan-1-ol

Bleaching:

The composition may comprise bleach and/or bleaching agents. Suitablebleach includes bleach activators, sources of available oxygen,pre-formed peracids, bleach catalysts, reducing bleach, and anycombination thereof. If present, the bleach, or any component thereof,for example the pre-formed peracid, may be coated, such as encapsulated,or clathrated, such as with urea or cyclodextrin.

Suitable bleach activators include: tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED);oxybenzene sulphonates such as nonanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate (NOBS),caprylamidononanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate (NACA-OBS), 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate (Iso-NOBS), dodecyl oxybenzene sulphonate(LOBS), and any mixture thereof; caprolactams; pentaacetate glucose(PAG); nitrile quaternary ammonium; imide bleach activators, such asN-nonanoyl-N-methyl acetamide; and any mixture thereof.

A suitable source of available oxygen (AvOx) is a source of hydrogenperoxide, such as percarbonate salts and/or perborate salts, such assodium percarbonate. The source of peroxygen may be at least partiallycoated, or even completely coated, by a coating ingredient such as acarbonate salt, a sulphate salt, a silicate salt, borosilicate, or anymixture thereof, including mixed salts thereof. Suitable percarbonatesalts can be prepared by a fluid bed process or by a crystallizationprocess. Suitable perborate salts include sodium perborate mono-hydrate(PB1), sodium perborate tetra-hydrate (PB4), and anhydrous sodiumperborate which is also known as fizzing sodium perborate. Othersuitable sources of AvOx include persulphate, such as oxone. Anothersuitable source of AvOx is hydrogen peroxide.

A suitable pre-formed peracid is N,N-pthaloylamino peroxycaproic acid(PAP).

Suitable bleach catalysts include oxaziridinium-based bleach catalysts,transition metal bleach catalysts and bleaching enzymes.

A suitable oxaziridinium-based bleach catalyst has the formula:

wherein: R¹ is selected from the group consisting of: H, a branchedalkyl group containing from 3 to 24 carbons, and a linear alkyl groupcontaining from 1 to 24 carbons; R¹ can be a branched alkyl groupcomprising from 6 to 18 carbons, or a linear alkyl group comprising from5 to 18 carbons, R¹ can be selected from the group consisting of:2-propylheptyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, n-hexyl,n-octyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-octadecyl,iso-nonyl, iso-decyl, iso-tridecyl and iso-pentadecyl; R² isindependently selected from the group consisting of: H, a branched alkylgroup comprising from 3 to 12 carbons, and a linear alkyl groupcomprising from 1 to 12 carbons; optionally R2 is independently selectedfrom H and methyl groups; and n is an integer from 0 to 1.

The composition may include transition metal bleach catalyst, typicallycomprising copper, iron, titanium, ruthenium, tungsten, molybdenum,and/or manganese cations. Suitable transition metal bleach catalysts aremanganese-based transition metal bleach catalysts.

The composition may comprise a reducing bleach. However, the compositionmay be substantially free of reducing bleach; substantially free means“no deliberately added”. Suitable reducing bleach include sodiumsulphite and/or thiourea dioxide (TDO).

The composition may comprise a co-bleach particle. Typically, theco-bleach particle comprises a bleach activator and a source ofperoxide. It may be highly suitable for a large amount of bleachactivator relative to the source of hydrogen peroxide to be present inthe co-bleach particle. The weight ratio of bleach activator to sourceof hydrogen peroxide present in the co-bleach particle can be at least0.3:1, or at least 0.6:1, or at least 0.7:1, or at least 0.8:1, or atleast 0.9:1, or at least 1.0:1.0, or even at least 1.2:1 or higher. Theco-bleach particle can comprise: (i) bleach activator, such as TAED; and(ii) a source of hydrogen peroxide, such as sodium percarbonate. Thebleach activator may at least partially, or even completely, enclose thesource of hydrogen peroxide. The co-bleach particle may comprise abinder. Suitable binders are carboxylate polymers such as polyacrylatepolymers, and/or surfactants including non-ionic detersive surfactantsand/or anionic detersive surfactants such as linear C₁₁-C₁₃ alkylbenzene sulphonate. The co-bleach particle may comprise bleach catalyst,such as an oxaziridium-based bleach catalyst.

The composition of the present invention may also include photo bleachesand/or catylists. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,281; US 2005028294;US 2009285768; EP 2213947 and WO 2004105874 disclose examples thereof.Other examples may include a photoactive moiety such as one selectedfrom the group consisting of 1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-diamine,1,1′-biphenyl-4-amine, benzophenone, 1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-diol,1,1′-biphenyl-4-amine, 1,1′-biphenyl-4-ol, 1,1′:2′,1″-terphenyl,1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl, 1,1′:4′,1″:4″,1′″-quaterphenyl,1,1′:4′,1″-terphenyl, 1,10-phenanthroline, 1,1′-biphenyl,1,2,3,4-dibenzanthracene, 1,2-benzenedicarbonitrile,1,3-isobenzofurandione, 1,4-naphthoquinone, 1,5-naphthalenediol,10H-phenothiazine, 10H-phenoxazine, 10-methylacridone, 1-acetonaphthone,1-chloroanthraquinone, 1-hydroxyanthraquinone,1-naphthalenecarbonitrile, 1-naphthalenecarboxaldehyde,1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, 1-naphthalenol, 2(1H)-quinolinone,2,2′-biquinoline, 2,3-naphthalenediol, 2,6-dichlorobenzaldehyde,21H,23H-porphine, 2-aminoanthraquinone, 2-benzoylthiophene,2-chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2-ethylanthraquinone,2H-1-benzopyran-2-one, 2-methoxythioxanthone,2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-methyl-9(10-methyl)-acridinone,2-methylanthraquinone, 2-methylbenzophenone, 2-naphthalenamine,2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid, 2-naphthalenol,2-nitro-9(10-methyl)-acridinone, 9(10-ethyl)-acridinone,3,6-qcridinediamine, 3,9-dibromoperylene, 3,9-dicyanophenanthrene,3-benzoylcoumarin, 3-methoxy-9-cyanophenanthrene, 3-methoxythioxanthone,3′-methylacetophenone, 4,4′-dichlorobenzophenone,4,4′-dimethoxybenzophenone, 4-bromobenzophenone, 4-chlorobenzophenone,4′-fluoroacetophenone, 4-methoxybenzophenone, 4′-methylacetophenone,4-methylbenzaldehyde, 4-methylbenzophenone, 4-phenylbenzophenone,6-methylchromanone, 7-(diethylamino)coumarin,7H-benz[de]anthracen-7-one, 7H-benzo[c]xanthen-7-one, 7H-furo[3,2-g][1]benzopyran-7-one, 9(10H)-acridinone, 9(10H)-anthracenone,9(10-methyl)-acridinone, 9(10-phenyl)-acridinon, 9,10-anthracenedione,9-acridinamine, 9-cyanophenanthrene, 9-fluorenone, 9H-carbazole,9H-fluoren-2-amine, 9H-fluorene, 9H-thioxanthen-9-ol,9H-thioxanthen-9-one, 9H-thioxanthene-2,9-diol, 9H-xanthen-9-one,acetophenone, acridene, acridine, acridone, anthracene, anthraquinone,anthrone, a-tetralone, benz[a]anthracene, benzaldehyde, benzamide,benzo[a]coronene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[f]quinoline, benzo[ghi]perylene,benzo[rst]pentaphene, benzophenone, benzoquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl,chrysene, coronene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, dibenzo[b,def]chrysene,dibenzo[c,g]phenanthrene, dibenzo[def,mno]chrysene,dibenzo[def,p]chrysene, DL-tryptophan, fluoranthene, fluoren-9-one,fluorenone, isoquinoline, methoxycoumarin, methylacridone, michler'sketone, naphthacene, naphtho[1,2-g]chrysene, N-methylacridone,p-benzoquinone, p-benzoquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro, pentacene,phenanthrene, phenanthrenequinone, phenanthridine,phenanthro[3,4-c]phenanthrene, phenazine, phenothiazine,p-methoxyacetophenone, pyranthrene, pyrene, quinoline, quinoxaline,riboflavin 5′-(dihydrogen phosphate), thioxanthone, thymidine,xanthen-9-one, xanthone, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the photoactive moiety is selected from the group consistingof xanthone, xanthene, thioxanthone, thioxanthene, phenothiazine,fluorescein, benzophenone, alloxazine, isoalloxazine, flavin,derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof. In one preferred embodiment,the photoactive moiety is thioxanthone.

Other suitable water-soluble photoactivators for the consumer productcompositions of the present invention include fluoresceins andderivatives thereof; preferably halogen substituted fluoresceins; morepreferably bromo- and iodo-fluoresceins such as dibromo fluorescein,diodo fluorescein, rose bengal, erythrosine, eosin (e.g. Eosin Y).

Color Restoration:

The method and device of the present invention may also be used torestore colors to surfaces such as fabrics and hard surfaces. Examplesof compositions that can be used for color restoration include those setforth in the following patents as US 200924562; WO 2010025097; US20080242584; US 20110177994; US 2008/0242584A1; US 00906906; US200906907; US 2009088363; US 2009209445; US 8,003,589; U.S. Pat. No.8,188,026; U.S. Pat. No. 8,236,745; U.S. Pat. No. 8,357,648; US2009249562; U.S. Pat. No. 8,097,047; US 2012246840; US 200917811; US200917812; WO 8084460; WO 8084461; US 2010056419; US 201005642; US2010056421; US 201129661; U.S. Pat. No. 8,193,141; U.S. Pat. No.8,372,795; U.S. Pat. No. 8,193,141; U.S. Pat. No. 8,969,281, and in theexample, below.

Example (% active) Component Material I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XIAE3S NH4¹ 2.0 — 3.0 — — — — — — — 2.0 AE 1.8S² — 5.0 — 3.0 2.0 — — — 5.0— — HLAS³ — — — — — 3.0 5.0 7.0 — — — Surfonic 24-9⁴ 3.0 5.0 2.0 5.0 4.010.0 12.0 15.0 7.0 — 1.0 Merquat ® 100⁵ — — 3.0 3.0 — 6.0 — 3.0 3.0 6.02.0 Merquat ® 106⁶ 3.5 3.5 — — — — — — — — — Merquat ® 280⁷ — — — — 5.0— 5.0 — — — — Betaine⁸ 7.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 3.0 5.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 7.5 7.0TAE80⁹ — — — — — 2 — — — — 1 Water Balance to 100% ¹Alkyl ethoxylatesulfate, 3 moles of ethoxylation, available from The Procter & GambleCompany. ²Alkyl ethoxylate, available from The Procter & Gamble Company.³Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, available from The Procter & GambleCompany. ⁴Nonionic surfactant, available from Huntsman Corp.⁵Homopolymer of diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride, polymer molecularweight of from about 100,000 to about 150,000. ⁶Homopolymer ofdiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride, polymer molecular weight from about5,000 to about 15,000. ⁷Co-polymer of dimethyldiallyl ammonium chlorideand acrylic acid, molecular weight of about 450,000 to 550,000 Daltons.⁸Lauryl amido propyl betaines, or C12-C16 cocoamido propyl betaines(supplied from Inolex under the tradename Lexaine ® CG30). ⁹Dispersingagent, ethoxylated tallow amine, available from BASF.

Protecting Surfaces:

The method and device of the present invention may be used to applycompositions that can protect surfaces. For example, a composition maybe applied that protects fibrous materials from damage, that protectsprinted designs, that modifies the surface to make it water resistant ormore hydrophilic. The composition can also provide a protective coveringon solid surfaces such as stone, concrete, plastic, wood, etc. to helpprevent water damage, staining, damage from objects hitting the surface,light, and chemicals, etc. Materials suitable for use as protectantsinclude, but are not limited to, oils, Teflon coating materials,silicone, dusting material, waxes, polymers, epoxy materials, UVblockers, film producing materials and combinations of these and othermaterials known or found to protect surfaces.

Other Uses:

The method and device of the present invention can be used to applyother types of compositions to treat hard and flexible surfaces. Forexample, the following patents disclose compositions that can be used tohelp cleaning, help provide desirable characteristics to fabrics andother surfaces, and to help conserve material and energy when washing orotherwise treating fabrics: U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,413; US 2005/060811; andUS 2005/098759.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation ofany document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect toany invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in anycombination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests ordiscloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning ordefinition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning ordefinition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, themeaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shallgovern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for applying a composition to a hardsurface, the apparatus including: a. an applicator head comprising amicrofluidic die having one or more applicator nozzles; b. a reservoirto hold the composition; c. a sensor; and d. a CPU; wherein the sensoris configured to sense at least a portion of the surface and provide theCPU with information about the surface, and wherein the CPU analyzes theinformation from the sensor to identify surface deviations, and the CPUactivates the one or more applicator nozzles based on the surfacedeviations.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor sensescolor, brightness, reflectance, refractance temperature, surface height,texture, color differences, odor, variations in the surface, dirt,irregularities in the surface, bacteria or combinations thereof.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a camera.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the microfluidic die includes a plurality ofnozzles.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic dieincludes a heating element or an electromechanical actuator.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a color sensor and thesensor and the CPU is programmed to identify a ΔL_(S) value of plus orminus 1.5%, preferably plus or minus 1.0% even more preferably plus orminus 0.5%, of the background L.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, whereinthe predetermined ΔL_(S) value is greater than 3, preferably greaterthan 2 and more preferably greater than
 1. 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the device is attached to a cleaning implement having a handleand a head.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the head of thecleaning implement is configured to receive a cleaning sheet.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the CPU is configured to activates the oneor more nozzles to apply the composition to the surface where thesurface deviations are located.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe CPU is configured to activate the one or more nozzles to apply thecomposition to the surface where the surface deviations are not located.12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CPU is configured to activatethe one or more nozzles in a discontinuous deposition pattern.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the CPU is configured to activate the oneor more nozzles in a continuous deposition pattern.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the number and or frequency of nozzles fired can beadjusted by a user of the apparatus.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherethe one or more nozzles are disposed in an array that is a linearconfiguration, multiple rows, off-set, sine wave, curved, circular, orsaw tooth arrangements.
 16. A method of depositing a composition on ahard surface, the method comprising the steps of: identifying the hardsurface onto which the composition will be deposited; providing a devicehaving a sensor, a reservoir for the composition, a CPU, and at leastone microfluidic die comprising at least one nozzle; locating the sensorover at least a portion of the hard surface; activating the sensor toacquire information about the hard surface; providing the acquiredinformation to the CPU; instructing the CPU to calculate the location ofone or more deviatins on the hard surface; and activating the at leastone nozzle to deposit the composition on the hard surface.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, including the additional step of sensing the hardsurface after the composition has been deposited thereon.
 18. The methodof claim 16, wherein the sensor senses the hard surface for variationsin color, brightness, reflectance, refractance temperature, texture,surface height, odor, variations in the surface, dirt, irregularities inthe surface, bacteria or combinations thereof and mixtures thereof. 19.The use of a device including a sensor, a CPU, a reservoir and amicrofluidic die to apply a composition to a hard surface.
 20. The useof claim 19, wherein the hard surface is a surface selected from thegroup of: a floor, a wall, a counter top, an appliance, a grout, a tile,a window, furniture, tools, a screen, a fabric, a carpet, a floorcovering, a textile, a painted surface, or combinations thereof.